Thiruvananthapuram: The proposal to set up an elephant rehabilitation centre at Kottur near Agastyavanam at Thiruvananthapuram has been well lauded by all animal lovers. These majestic and lovable giants would have a chain-free life at the orphanage, according to forest officials.
The orphanage with a budget outlay of Rs.5-crore is envisaged as a retirement home for the aged and incapacitated elephants.
The centre would be able to house a minimum of 30 animals at a time and each enclosure would have an area of at least one acre. The decision was taken after a comprehensive case study on the behavioral patterns of two six-year-old calves which were housed at the enclosure. This is the first endeavor ever in the State where the animals can roam around freely just like in their natural habitat.
This centre would be a haven for sick and old animals which would be a looked after by a committed team of experts. Wild elephant calves that cannot be turned back to their natural habitat would also be housed here.
While some elephant shelters in the State such as Muthanga in Wayanad and Kodanad in Ernakulam District focus on the tourism aspects, the Kottur sanctuary would emphasize exclusively on the animal welfare. The centre will be functioning as a semi autonomous society and will receive contributions from animal lovers. It is indeed an elephantine thought for the welfare these magnificent animals, which is one of the most stunning and unique hallmarks of the State of Kerala.
