While more than 30 elephants from across the State began their 48-day rejuvenation at Mettupalayam in Coimbatore on Thursday, 63-year-old female elephant Aandal began hers at the Kurumbampatti Zoological Park near Salem City, as age ruled out travel to the camp. She had missed the camp last year too. Range Officer of the zoological park S. Elangovan said veterinarians examined the elephant recently and certified that it was too old to travel all the way to Mettupalayam.
She would be fed in the open area with the food prescribed for the rejuvenation and regularly checked by veterinarians during the camp.
District Forest Officer (DFO) S. Loganathan said the elephant was with the Andal Alagar Temple in Madurai till 2009.
“Diagnosed with tuberculosis early that year, she was shifted to Mudumalai for treatment. Based on a petition filed by an animal rights activist in the Madras High Court, the court directed that she should be shifted to the park in Salem, which was done later that year,” he said.
The official said the elephant had recovered from the ailment about two years ago. Department officials recalled that the elephant had trampled to death a watcher in the zoological park a year ago.
They added that the elephant had a history of getting agitated during a certain part of the year. She was under special care.
