Create infrastructure
before transporting elephants
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The Hindu, Monday, Aug 18, 2003 |
CHENNAI
The programme envisages a month-long holiday every year for the animals. They will be kept in cool forest environs and provided special medical attention and nourishment. |
Forest department officials say about 80 elephants from
various parts of the State are expected to participate in the camp. Researchers say the elephants will have to be transported during cooler hours, (both in the morning and evening) and given rest during mid-day. The camps should be spread over two or three places, says R. Sukumar, Chairman, International Union for Conservation of Natural Flora and Fauna's Asian Elephants Specialists Group. He says there is no need for sedating the pachyderms during transportation, but a veterinarian will have to accompany the animals. Sanctuary authorities have suggested two places for the camp. However, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments department authorities want it organised at Theppakkadu alone. The animals need a lot of water, but not enough supply may be available there, and hence the suggestion to split the camp into two groups, say the sanctuary authorities. Experienced wildlife veterinarians say that in Tamil Nadu, a majority of the temples and private people own only cow elephants. All they have to do is to train them to board a lorry. Once they are familiar with the process, they will not create any problem, says a senior veterinary officer. However, the Government will have to alert veterinarians in each district while transporting the animals in a lorry as is the practice while an elephant is transported by the Forest department. When contacted, Animal Husbandry department officials said they had so far not received any such request from the HR & CE department. Asked whether a month-long holiday in sylvan, natural surroundings will induce any behavioural change in the pachyderms, Dr. Jacob Cheeran, an elephant specialist from Thrissur, Kerala, says: "Certainly there will not be any change in their behaviour." A month's stay in the forests will surely improve the health of the animals. The rejuvenation programme is implemented in Kerala even today, he says. |