Jumbo keepers' training plan

Alipurduar: The state forest department has decided to set up a training centre for mahouts and its pet elephants in north Bengal.

According to sources at the department, the centre would be the first-of-its-kind initiative in this part of the country.

In the region, there are 85 pet elephants which stay at the Jaldapara National Park, Gorumara National Park and Buxa Tiger Reserve.

"The number of elephants is on the rise as we want to engage more elephants for forest protection and carrying tourists. However, the number of mahouts and 'patawalas' (caretakers) has come down in recent years," Ravi Kant Sinha, chief wildlife warden of the state, said over phone from Calcutta.

"Also, it is necessary to improve the dexterity of those working now with us, as most of the experienced mahouts have retired. That is why we have planned to come up with the training centre," Sinha added.

The facility, he said, would come up at Jaldapara by March 2019. A 40-hectare plot has been identified at Salkumarhat in the Jaldapara South Range. A grazing ground would be prepared on 20 hectares while a new pilkhana, or elephant's enclosure, will come up on the rest.

Some other facilities planned include a veterinary unit, barracks and quarters for the staff.

"Some mahouts and patawalas have been attacked by their trained elephants. We feel it necessary to improve their skills. The centre will also function as a training facility for the pet elephants," Ujjwal Ghosh, chief conservator of forests (wildlife, North) said.

Parboti Barua, an elephant expert, welcomed the move. "Such a centre is essential to tame and train elephants and to improve the skills of mahouts and patawalas."


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