An eight-year-old female elephant, weighing close to two tonnes, is now acclimatising herself to weather conditions at Chadivayal elephant camp near Siruvani before leaving for its new abode - Samayapuram Mariamman Temple near Tiruchi.
Masini, who was orphaned in 2007, has all along been in the Mudumalai Elephant Camp and is used to cool conditions.
When it left the Mudumalai camp last week, after the government decided to give the elephant to the Samayapuram Mariamman Temple, the staff at the camp bid adieu to the friendly calf. The elephant was brought to the plains to slowly prepare itself for the rather hot weather in Tiruchi.
At the Chadivayal camp, Masini’s schedule includes a breakfast comprising ragi, rice, jaggery, sugarcane and salt. She then goes out for grazing and for a walk for about two to three kms.
The camp has two more kumki elephants - Sujay (44) and Pari (36). While Pari came to the Chadivayal camp from Kozhikamudhi near Top Slip, Sujay from the Mudumalai camp.
Expense
The expense incurred on Masini’s food and medicine will be reimbursed by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department.
With Masini,s arrival, Range Officer C. Dinesh Kumar of the Forest Department has deployed close to 15 employees to take care of her till she leaves for Chadivayal by mid-November. On Friday, Masini was examined by forest veterinarian N.S. Manoharan and her health was in good condition. After Deepavali, a decision on when she could leave for Samayapuram would be taken.
