Jumbo issue.. After plans to get two elephants from Karnataka, Gadchiroli fail, PTR exploring other states
   Date :15-Mar-2024

Jumbo issue 
 
 
 
By Kaushik Bhattacharya
 
 
The Pench Tiger Reserve (PTR) management is exploring other options to get two more elephants for its Borban camp as it is unable to get elephants from Motigodu camp of Karnataka and Kamlapur camp in Maharashtra respectively. PTR was supposed to get one male elephant from Karnataka, but due to some issue, the transfer of elephant got cancelled. Locals of Kamlapur elephant camp in Gadchiroli opposed the shifting of their 32-year-old female elephant ‘Mangla’ to PTR.
 
Therefore, PTR is searching for two elephants -- one male and one female -- in other states. “Locals are not ready to release their female elephant to be taken to Nagpur and the camp in Karnataka also has a shortage of male elephants there, to handover us. Therefore, we are now exploring other camps in other states like Odisha to get two elephants in Borban camp,” Dr Prabhunath Shukla, Deputy Director, PTR told The Hitavada. “We were supposed to get the male elephant from Karnataka till the end of this month but now it will take more time,” said Dr Shukla.
 
Nagpur Forest Division recently established the elephant camp at Chorbaoli Range for development of eco-tourism in PTR and for deep forest patrolling with the help of elephants. In the first phase, PTR got two male elephants named ‘Bhima’ (30) and ‘Subramanaya’ (29) from Karnataka’s Motigodu and Dubare elephant camps. Two more elephants are supposed to come from different camps but it is now delayed as the PTR management is still searching two jumbos. The Borban camp in PTR is situated on the bank of Pench river which is surrounded with thick forest. It is situated far away from any kind of human interference.
 
Team of Borban camp to visit MP for training
The team of Borban camp which includes Mahouts, care takers and veterinarians will visit to Pench Tiger Reserve of Madhya Pradesh side to get training for handling of elephants soon. The two elephants in the camp is currently under the supervision of their new Mahouts. Both elephants came to Nagpur with their old Mahouts and after their return the new Mahouts from PTR is taking care of the elephants. “Madhya Pradesh forest department is already handling elephants for patrolling in their Tiger Reserves and promoting eco-tourism. Our team will go there and take training from their trained staff about proper handling of elephants in deep forest,” said Dr Shukla.
 
“In this seven-day training, our veterinarians will also get lessons of treatment of jumbos and also to experience the process of daily routine of the elephant in MP side,” said the Deputy Director. To promote eco-tourism in Chorbaoli forest range, we will allow tourists to feed the jumbos in the camp and also to click selfies with them. After some time, we will start elephant safari also in some routes of the jungle,” said Dr Shukla. Patrolling inside forest will be the major work for these elephants and the training of the staff will help us to guide jumbos in deep forest, said the officer.