Culture

Karnataka to throw open first elephant care centre for visitors

With the idea of making people close to animals, especially elephants, Karnataka’s first ever exclusive elephant care centre will soon be thrown open to visitors.

The Centre located in Kajikallahalli village which is near Kolar, is spread over 25 acres of area in Lakshmisagar reserve forest was started in August this year at a cost of Rs.1.5 crore. At present it has four female jumbos who have come from Karnataka, Tamil, Kerala and Goa. While three are undergoing treatment for injuries, swollen legs and diabetes, the fourth one has diabetes.

It has been set up by the Forest Department in collaboration with Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre, a Bengaluru-based NGO and will take care of injured, aged, diseased and destitute elephants.

The diseased and injured animals will be provided not only medical attention but also provided an environment to enable them to heal fast.

Obesity and diabetes are generally found among the temple and camp elephants and the reason for that is limited physical activity and diet and because of this they take a long time to heal when injured.

At the Centre each elephant is provided a specific diet and exercise as per the advice of the veterinarians. They are bathed twice a day and fed paddy, ragi, fruits and green grass. A modern kitchen has been set up to prepare their meals.

While there are open spaces for the animals to gather called corrals, separate enclosures for each of them also have been created. Besides there are recreation and shower areas, walking areas and medical rooms. Apart from open spaces, closed ones have also been made to protect them from rain and sun.

To make the place environment-friendly, sustainable and waste recycling units are being set up.

While at present the premises has the capacity to house eight elephants, the Forest Department is working to expand the facility and accommodate more animals while also allowing a portion of it open to visitors to feed and interact with them.

IN Bureau

Recent Posts

VINBAX 2024: Vietnam-India bilateral army exercise concludes at Kaushalya Dam

The fifth edition of the historic Indo-Vietnam Joint Field Training Exercise, VINBAX-2024, successfully concluded its…

6 hours ago

India-Russia strengthen defence ties at 22nd Working Group meeting on military technical cooperation

The 22nd meeting of the India-Russia Working Group on Military technical cooperation and defence industry…

6 hours ago

“I want to have strong representation of India at World Nuclear Exhibition 2025”: Sylvie Bermann

Sylvie Bermann, President of the World Nuclear Exhibition expressed confidence in India's nuclear supply chain…

7 hours ago

PoJK: Joint Awami Action Committee protests against government following new ordinance, many injured

Joint Awami Action Committee core member Shaukat Nawaz Mir has condemned the attack of police…

8 hours ago

PM Modi meets 31 world leaders, heads of organisations during his 3-nation foreign visit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi participated in 31 Bilateral Meetings and informal interactions with global leaders…

10 hours ago

India- Australia conduct 11th Indian Air Force-Royal Australian Air Force Air Staff Talks

India and Australia conducted the 11th edition of the Indian Air Force and Royal Australian…

10 hours ago