Elephant rejuvenation camp ends

Curtains came down on the State-sponsored 11th annual rejuvenation camp for temple and mutt elephants at Thekkampatti near Mettupalayam on Wednesday.

The 48-day camp started on December 14 and as many as 26 elephants from Tamil Nadu and one each from Puducherry and Karaikal took part.

The daily schedule for the elephants at the camp included a morning walk, shower and a diet prepared based on the age, gender, and health of the elephants. The camp was also to rejuvenate the mahouts and cavadis.

Foot wash

Forest Veterinarian N.S. Manoharan said that the elephants were given a foot wash with herbal oil during the 48-day period.

The camp was conducted by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR and CE) Department and the Forest and Animal Husbandry Departments, under the supervision of V. Vetriselvan, Executive Officer, HR and CE. The State Government had spent ₹1.45 crore towards the camp.

On Wednesday, a special puja was held and the elephants were fed fruits by the Minister for Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments, Sevoor S. Ramachandran. The elephants were then boarded on to the trucks and sent to their respective temples and mutts.

The elephants, on leaving the camp, will get a standardised diet as per the chart prepared towards the conclusion of the camp. The temples have been asked to continuously monitor the health card and bring it next year.

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