In an initiative that is expected to lead to jumbo benefits for elephants in various parts of Tamil Nadu, executive officers of temples, mahouts and veterinarians from across the State were trained to take care of captive elephants.
On Tuesday, a one-day elephant training workshop was conducted at Arignar Anna Zoological Park for them.
Jointly organised by the Forest Department and Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, the workshop combined scientific methods and time-tested traditional techniques in handling elephants.
Elephant calves were chosen as subjects of the workshop. The mahouts were asked to carry out tasks such as bathing and feeding these pachyderms.
Forests Minister M.S.M. Anandan and Animal Husbandry Minister T.K.M. Chinnaiyya, who inaugurated the workshop, said the rejuvenation camps for elephants that had been introduced by the State Government had been of immense help to animal keepers. They had been helping them dispense their duties efficiently, they added.
“At present, 31 elephants are maintained by temples under HR and CE. Ten more elephants are under the care of various mutts across the State. There are 141 elephants under private trusts and individuals, which are being groomed well, thanks to the State Government initiative,” said Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Head of Forest Force) V.K. Melkani.
Zoo Director K.S.S.V.P. Reddy, said that at present the zoo had three elephant calves, Ashok (6), Giri (7) and Kurien (8).
M. Veera Shanmugha Moni, commissioner, HR and CE and Hans Raj Verma, principal secretary to Government of Tamil Nadu, Environment and Forest Department, spoke on the occasion.
