Kerala - Kochi   

An elephantine task

K.S. Sudhi

KOCHI: Aged captive elephants and those in distress may get some relief if the ambitious programme for elephant rehabilitation centres materialises.

A high-level committee meeting of Forest Department officials, convened last week, has decided to complete the concept paper for the elephant rehabilitation project in a month. The project will be implemented in the State with Central support.

The initiative is the result of a public outcry against torture and ill-treatment of elephants and a series of incidents involving animals running wild in different parts of the State during the last temple festival season.

The Department is looking for places with adequate supply of water for the animals and road connectivity to bring in visitors.

Land will not be an issue since the Forest Department has sufficient land in its possession, said an official associated with the project.

After several elephants ran amok in different areas, a meeting involving Forest, Revenue and Home Ministers and senior Government officials were convened in April 11 to chart out an action plan to deal with the situation. It was decided at the meeting to strictly implement provisions of the captive elephant management rules and register all elephants before the district collectors. However, it took two months for the Government to issue directions to the district administrators to take steps for registering the elephants. District administrators in Kochi have decided to complete the registration of elephants in one month.

The task of implanting micro-chips in the elephants is yet to gather momentum in the State. About 200 animals have been implanted with the device till now.

The authorities are hoping to complete the task when the animals are brought before the district administrators for registration.

A training programme for mahouts will be held on July 21 at Vadakkunnathan Temple premises and another on August 3 at Kodanad. A few elephants will be implanted with micro-chips at Vadakkunnathan temple premises when they will be brought there for an Anayoottu programme, officials said.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Steps to be taken to find new site
One more budget carrier from Kochi
Steps to check rash driving
Income Tax Ombudsman
Concern over landing accidents
Cardinal calls for moderation
Self-financing imbroglio
DGP asked to ensure prisoners’ safety High Court round-up
MVR’s petition dismissed
Upasco project in UAE
An elephantine task
Aqua culture training
Bus strike partial
Kochi today
Plea on power tariff
Two more chikungunya cases reported
Brahmapuram not an ideal site
Action sought against college management

Copyright © 2007, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu