Coimbatore: A jumbo treat awaits animal lovers on the banks of the Bhavani river in Coimbatore as elephants from temples and mutts from across Tamil Nadu are expected to arrive in Mettupalayam by Wednesday for the annual retreat that begins here on December 11. As many as 42 elephants , including one from the Nagore Dargah and two temple elephants from Puducherry, will participate in the annual 48-day rejuvenation camp on the banks of Bhavani river in Thekkampatty.
Unlike last year, the trained elephants of the forest department will not be brought to the rejuvenation camp at Mettupalyam, but have their own retreats at different elephant camps at Mudumalai Theppakadu in the Nilgiris, Kolikamuthi in Anaimalai, Chadivayal in Coimbatore, Kurumbapatty in Salem and Vandalur Zoo in Chennai.“Elephants that are sick and those which are unwilling to get on to vehicles will not be forced and will be excluded from attending the camp.
But they will receive the same nutritious food and medical treatment wherever they are,” explains HR and CE commissioner, P. Dhanapal.Meanwhile , work is underway at the camp site to create facilities for the elephants and the mahouts, who will accompany them. Besides clearing the area of shrubs, a one kilometer walking track has been created for elephants to enjoy their daily jaunts.
A pet project of former Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa, the rejuvenation camp was started in 2003 following complaints that temple and mutt elephants were ill treated and often became unruly on public occasions as a result.
