Low-key start to jumbo rejuvenation camp

The annual rejuvenation camp for temple and mutt elephants in Tamil Nadu and for two guests from the neighbouring Puducherry began for the ninth year here on Thursday on a sprawling six-acre land along the banks of river Bhavani at Thekkampatti near Mettuppalayam at the foothills of scenic Nilgiris.

Commissioner for Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) M. Veera Shanmuga Moni inaugurated the low-key event with no elected representatives present.

The pet project of the late former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa since 2003 was held for the first four years at Mudumalai and then for the last four years at Thekkampatti. As on Thursday as many as 31 elephants turned up and three more are expected to join in a day or two, after fulfilling their commitments such as pujas and festivals at their respective temples. Seven elephants that did not make it owing to reasons of health or because they refuse to board the trucks will go through the rejuvenation routine at the respective temples.

Camp elephants of the Forest Department will get rejuvenation at the Theppakkadu camp in Mudumalai in the Nilgiris, Chadivayal in Coimbatore at Top Slip in Anamalai Tiger Reserve near Pollachi.

Of the 31 temples, five are from the mutts such as Thiruvaduthurai, two elephants from Jeer Mutt, Thirukkadayur and Thiruvaiyaru. The usual guest jumbos from Puducherry are Lakshmi from Manakula Vinayakar temple and Prakruthi from Thirunallur Dharbanyeswarar Temple.

Jumbos started arriving from Wednesday evening. The first one to arrive was Gandhimathi from the Tirunelveli Nellaiyappar temple. As it used to be every year, the friendly elephants were seen bonding with one another.

Duration reduced

The HR & CE has allocated a sum of Rs 1.16 crore. Unusually, this year the duration of the camp has been brought down to 30 days instead of the usual 48 days. Though no reason was officially cited, sources said that the prevailing drought conditions and the fact that delayed start of the camp would see the peak summer season setting in soon.

This could result in wild jumbos straying into human habitations resulting in a conflict situation.