Mahouts and kavadis from several zoos in South India and also from Western India are taking part in a training programme that began at the Mysuru zoo here on Monday, to sharpen their skills in handling elephants.
This is the second such training organised for capacity building of mahouts and kavadis by the zoo, in association with the Central Zoo Authority. More than 30 mahouts had taken part in the training held in November. The same number are attending the five-day programme in the second batch.
Inspector General of Police (Southern range) K.V. Sharath Chandra inaugurated the training. Zoo Authority of Karnataka (ZAK) Member Secretary B.P. Ravi, Mysuru zoo Executive Director Ajit Kulkarni, and other were present.
Mahouts from more than seven zoos are attending.
“Mysuru zoo was chosen for the capacity building of mahouts as it is one of the best in maintaining animal health standards. Knowledge on subjects on elephants will be imparted by experts and conservationists,” Mr. Kulkarni said.
Karnataka’s elephant camps have about 95 elephants and about 42 elephants are housed in the State zoos. The capacity building programme is considered to be a conservation exercise.
In the first batch, 30 mahouts from Karnataka, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat underwent training from November 19 to 23.
The participants will be taken to Dubare elephant camp and Koorgalli Animal Rescue Centre as an exposure visit. There will be sessions by experts and conservationists, he said.
