Pilibhit (UP), Dec 15 : Five elephants from Karnataka will be brought to the Pilibhit Tiger Reserve (PTR).
These elephants will undertake forest patrolling and carry out rescue operations, especially in cases of man-animal conflict.
A team of experts including PTR deputy director Naveen Khandelwal and senior veterinarian, Dr Daksh Gangwar, has reached Karnataka to select elephants.The final date to transport the jumbos will be decided soon after getting necessary approvals from the Karnataka Forest department.
Dr Gangwar said, “Our priority is to look for young elephants between eight and 20 years.We may consider a little older elephant also if it is suitable.
They must be healthy without any chronic injury or disease like tuberculosis.We are also checking how the elephant responds to commands of its mahout, condition of its nails, etc.”According to Naveen Khandelwal, “We have shortlisted seven elephants and we will select more before finalizing five of them.”Thereafter, a proposal will be sent to Karnataka’s principal chief conservator of forests, who will give a final nod for handing over the elephants to PTR.This is expected by the end of January and once the approval is given, the elephants will be brought to Pilibhit, where they will be kept in isolation.Their mahouts from Karnataka will accompany the jumbos to PTR and stay till they accept commands in Hindi from local mahouts, Khandelwal added.amita/skp/
Pilibhit Tiger Reserve to get 5 jumbos from Karnataka
To select the elephants, a team consisting of Dr Daksh Gangwar (senior veterinarian) and Naveen Khandelwal, deputy director at PTR, have reached Karnataka.After obtaining the necessary approvals from Karnataka Forest, the final date for transporting the jumbos is set. Dr Gangwar stated, “Our priority to find young elephants aged between 8 and 20 years.” If an older elephant is available, we may also consider it.The elephants must not have any disease or chronic injuries.Also, we are observing how the elephant reacts to its mahout’s commands, its nail condition, and other aspects.
Naveen Khandelwal said, “We’ve shortlisted seven elephants.We will choose more.”
The proposal will then be submitted to Karnataka’s chief conservator of forest, who will approve the transfer of elephants to PTR.The approval will come by January 31st.Once that is done, the proposal will be sent to Karnataka’s principal chief conservator of forests.Khandelwal said that their mahouts will be from Karnataka and accompany them to PTR.They’ll stay until they can accept Hindi commands from mahouts.
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