TTD forest staff sensitised on handling wild elephants

Psychology of jumbos and their mood change in tune with seasons discussed

A Himachal Pradesh-based wildlife scientist, Rudra Aditya on Saturday conducted a training session for the forest wing staff and mahouts of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD).

The guidelines to be followed while driving wild herds of elephants away from human habitations and the paths in Tirumala hills were discussed at length during the session held at the Swetha Bhavan of the TTD. Dr. Rudra Aditya discussed the topics of how wild elephants could be driven into the thickets by using certain techniques. They included smoking out the herds by using red chills stuffed into gunny sacks and hollow bamboo stumps.

“Shouting and throwing stones at wild elephants should never be done. Wearing red and white dress in the forests would be risky as wild elephants get enraged on seeing those objects,” said Dr. Rudra Aditya and advised the field staff and the tourists visiting the wildlife sanctuaries to wear green uniforms.

The scientist said that in case of any charge by jumbos against humans, the latter should run in a zig-zag manner, and never in a straight direction. He also touched on topics regarding the psychology of elephants and their different moods in tune with changing seasons.