Dudhwa-bound elephants take a break in city, pull crowds

Nagpur: At a time when Maharashtra forest department is unable to get its own elephant rescue unit at Pench in place by shifting seven tuskers from Gadchiroli, Uttar Pradesh forest department is transporting 11 pachyderms from Karnataka to Dudhwa Tiger Reserve.
In one of the biggest such exercises eight elephants and three calves are being moved over 2,500km from south to north in 10 trucks. The convoy on Thursday morning took break at Fetri near Gorewada in order to protect the elephants from scorching sun, drawing curious onlookers to the spot.

“The trucks carrying elephants had stopped at Gorewada for feeding, bathing and health check-up. We are taking them for rhino monitoring and patrolling. They will also be helpful for tackling man-animal conflict. We have 13 elephants at Dudhwa camps,” said Mahavir Koujalagi, deputy director, Dudhwa, who is leading the group.

“To restore number of elephants in the camps, Karnataka has come to our rescue by gifting these elephants. The job becomes tougher in Terai region during rainy season when forest is dense,” says Koujalagi.

He along with one ACF, three foresters, one RFO and three vets, besides 60 others including transporters, drivers, mahouts, caretakers, and labourers are taking care of the tuskers during transit.

Apart from trucks carrying the elephants, there are three cars and a jeep for vets and motor pump to draw water. There are water tanks of 200 litres in the truck from which they can drink water. Two trucks carry feed like water melons, sugarcane, green grass, coconuts, and jaggery etc.

WWF-India’s senior project manager Ajinkya Bhatkar was present at the spot and coordinated team’s visit with the help of Gorewada officials. “As per request by UP PCCF (wildlife) SK Upadhyay, our field formations have been coordinating with the convoy throughout the tour. We got water tankers at Fetri and water melons to avoid dehydration to animals,” said Bhatkar.


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