THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala’s old elephants can now retire and spend their twilight years in dignity at the newly opened Elephant Rehabilitation Center outside the state capital here.
India’s first old-age home for elephants was opened Wednesday at the serene Agasthyavanam Biological Park, one of the major attractions for the eco-tourists in Kerala.
“We’ll convert this into a pilgrimage center for animal lovers all over the world,” Forest Minister Binoy Vishwam said as he opened the center’s gate to Ranjini, Jayashree, Ammu and Mina, the first inmates.
The state hopes to attract a large number of tourists to the facility. The local Eco-Tourism Development Committee under the Forest Department is also organizing elephant rides for them.
“This will also function as a rehabilitation center for elephants in distress,” the minister said. “Elephants abandoned by their owners for not being able to work due to permanent injury would be accommodated here”.
Work on the 140-acre center would be completed in three years at a cost of 50 million rupees and when completed it would accommodate at least 30 colossal animals leading life after retirement.
“We are planning to develop this into an international study and research center for elephants,” the minister said. “This will give shelter for all rescued, injured or abused elephants”.
The government recently issued strict strictures to ensure the well being of the pachyderms and fixed 65 as their retirement age. It decided on the project following frequent reports of ill-treatment of sick and old elephants.
Vets will also be on hand at the center where owners of elephants who are still working but are in need of a month’s rest to rejuvenate themselves at an affordable price.
“Elephants will be freely moving around here without chains and we’ll be providing them with quality fodder grown at the center,” the minister said. A papermaking unit using elephant dung is also being planned here. According to reports, Kerala has a population of around 900 captive elephants — the highest number of any Indian state. The famed Sree Krishna Temple at Guruvayoor owns the largest herd of 65. In recent years, popularity of the colossal animals has surged as a parade of elephants has become a must at the temple festivals. Of late, even churches and mosques have taken to parading elephants around, making them stand under the scorching sun for hours on end.
It requires huge amounts money for feeding and watering besides medical aid and three mahouts each to look them after. As a result, the owners show no gratitude for their lifetime labor and leave them to die a painful death once they are too old or weak or ill to work.
