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Photos: Kerala set to house India’s first elephant rehabilitation centre

In Kerala, the government is working to set up the country’s first elephant rehabilitation centre in Kottoor, an ecotourism village near the state capital Thiruvananthapuram. The centre, expected to have an elephant museum, mahout training centre, super-specialty hospital, a retirement home and crematorium for the animals, will house orphaned, injured and older elephants. It is being planned on the lines of the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage in Sri Lanka.

Updated on: Jul 09, 2019 9:49 AM IST

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An elephant is bathed at the Elephant Rehabilitation Centre, Kappukadu, in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. The Kerala government is working to set up the country’s first elephant rehabilitation centre in Kottoor, an ecotourism village near the state capital Thiruvananthapuram. The first phase of the Rs 105 crore-project was launched last month by chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan. (Vivek R Nair / HT Photo)

Updated on Jul 09, 2019 9:49 AM

An elephant is bathed at the Elephant Rehabilitation Centre, Kappukadu, in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. The Kerala government is working to set up the country’s first elephant rehabilitation centre in Kottoor, an ecotourism village near the state capital Thiruvananthapuram. The first phase of the Rs 105 crore-project was launched last month by chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan. (Vivek R Nair / HT Photo)

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Elephants being fed sugarcane at the rehabilitation centre. The centre, expected to have an elephant museum, mahout training centre, super-specialty hospital, a retirement home and crematorium for the animals, will house orphaned, injured and older elephants. It is being planned on the lines of the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage in Sri Lanka. (Vivek R Nair / HT Photo)

Updated on Jul 09, 2019 9:49 AM

Elephants being fed sugarcane at the rehabilitation centre. The centre, expected to have an elephant museum, mahout training centre, super-specialty hospital, a retirement home and crematorium for the animals, will house orphaned, injured and older elephants. It is being planned on the lines of the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage in Sri Lanka. (Vivek R Nair / HT Photo)

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While the centre has only 15 elephants so far, officials expect the numbers will go up once work on the infrastructure is complete. Thiruvananthapuram Wildlife Warden Y M Shaji Kumar said, “Besides giving best care and protection to orphaned and abandoned elephants we are planning to give an opportunity for people to know more about elephants. They can understand their behaviour and life pattern from a close range.” (Vivek R Nair / HT Photo)

Updated on Jul 09, 2019 9:49 AM

While the centre has only 15 elephants so far, officials expect the numbers will go up once work on the infrastructure is complete. Thiruvananthapuram Wildlife Warden Y M Shaji Kumar said, “Besides giving best care and protection to orphaned and abandoned elephants we are planning to give an opportunity for people to know more about elephants. They can understand their behaviour and life pattern from a close range.” (Vivek R Nair / HT Photo)

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Elephant expert PS Easa said, “We have been toying with this idea for some time. This will be a boon for wildlife researchers and veterinary students.” The forest department also plans to admit captive elephants. According to the last elephant census, the state has 507 captive elephants. The Sree Krishna temple in Guruvayur town has 59 elephants. (Vivek R Nair / HT Photo)

Updated on Jul 09, 2019 9:49 AM

Elephant expert PS Easa said, “We have been toying with this idea for some time. This will be a boon for wildlife researchers and veterinary students.” The forest department also plans to admit captive elephants. According to the last elephant census, the state has 507 captive elephants. The Sree Krishna temple in Guruvayur town has 59 elephants. (Vivek R Nair / HT Photo)

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A caretaker cleans an elephant's foot at the centre as part of the bath. (Vivek R Nair / HT Photo)

Updated on Jul 09, 2019 9:49 AM

A caretaker cleans an elephant's foot at the centre as part of the bath. (Vivek R Nair / HT Photo)

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Visitors watch as elephants are bathed at the Elephant Rehabilitation Centre. Once operational, the centre, spread over 65 hectares of natural forests, will also start an elephant safari and other activities to attract tourists. (Vivek R Nair / HT Photo)

Updated on Jul 09, 2019 9:49 AM

Visitors watch as elephants are bathed at the Elephant Rehabilitation Centre. Once operational, the centre, spread over 65 hectares of natural forests, will also start an elephant safari and other activities to attract tourists. (Vivek R Nair / HT Photo)

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An army of elephants carry their handlers at the centre. The centre will also have a training centre for mahouts along with a residential facility for them. There are no authorised training schools for mahouts in the country leading to ill-treatment of animals, officials said. State forest minister K Raju said, “We will make it a world class centre. It will be a major tourist attraction.” (Vivek R Nair / HT Photo)

Updated on Jul 09, 2019 9:49 AM

An army of elephants carry their handlers at the centre. The centre will also have a training centre for mahouts along with a residential facility for them. There are no authorised training schools for mahouts in the country leading to ill-treatment of animals, officials said. State forest minister K Raju said, “We will make it a world class centre. It will be a major tourist attraction.” (Vivek R Nair / HT Photo)

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