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10th jumbo camp at Nagavara in Hassan

Camp will come up on 25 acres and will have 6 elephants initially.

Hassan: The state is set to get its tenth elephant camp with the forest department deciding to open one in Nagavara village, Alur taluk, Hassan. The camp will occupy 25 acres close to Doddabetta forest.

Explaining the choice of location, Deputy Conservator of Forests, Hassan, Manjunath said the Doddabetta reserve forest, spread across 1,500 acres, was rich in fodder needed to meet the huge appetite of the elephants and was close to the backwaters.

"We feed the camp jumbos supplements, but they have a huge appetite, which is difficult to meet. So Doddabetta is the ideal location for the camp jumbos as it gives them enough forage for fodder," he said, when contacted.

Already the digging of elephant- proof trenches has begun around the 25-acre plot. Solar fencing will also be done to prevent wild jumbos from straying into the camp. In addition, a borewell will be sunk, sheds constructed and a kitchen set up, says the DCF.

Initially, around six jumbos will be imported from Nagarahole, Tittimathi and Dubare camps to the Nagavara camp, which might kick- off on about five acres to begin with, according to him.

Once the new camp at Nagavara opens, possibly in January, it will be the tenth such camp in the state. The others are at the Bandipur National Park, Nagarahole National Park, K. Gudi in Biligirirangana Hills, a tiger reserve, Dubare elephant camp in Madikeri, Sakkarebailu elephant camp of Shivamogga, Doddaharave camp in Hunsur territorial division and Banasoli in Dandeli. All these camps are home to over 115 elephants.

( Source : Deccan Chronicle. )
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