Thekkampatty jumbo camp for 48 days this year; 15 reach venue

They were weighed by the authorities before being taken to the camp site after a special puja.. “A check-up will be done to assess the health condition of the jumbos,” said Joint Director of Animal Husbandry Department, Coimbatore zone Chandrasekar.

Officials elaborated that thirty three elephants from temples and mutts will be participating in the annual rejuvenation camp which will be inaugurated by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Minister Sevur S Ramachandran and Forest Minister Dindugal C Srinivasan on Thursday. 

While the camp was cut short to 30 days last year due to a drought, the government has decided to conduct the camp for 48 days this time as there is enough water for the pachyderms.

At the camp site, elephants will be provided with a walking track, bathing shower and other medical care facilities.

Coimbatore District Forest Officer N Satheesh said that forest department staff have been deployed to prevent wild elephants from straying into the Thekkampatti camp site.

“At night around 30 staff members will maintain vigil. Six watch towers have been erected for the purpose. The entire camp site is solar fenced,” he said.