Kodagu: The Forest Department is all set to establish an elephant
camp in Athur Reserve Forest beside Harangi Reservoir. The camp will come up in Kushalnagar Taluk, which will be the third in the district.
The district
already has Mathogodu Elephant Camp in Ponnampet Taluk and Dubare Elephant camp in Kushalnagar Taluk.
The camp is also the ninth in the State. Once opened the camp will become another souhht-after tourism spot
of district.
The forest officials have initiated tender process for which Rs. 70 lakh worth works action plan has been created.
The Forest Department’s move came after an Expert Committee appointed by
State Government to probe unnatural death of elephants in camps suggested that the number of elephants in elephant camps should not
exceed 15. The committee that inspected Dubare Elephant Camp found 32
elephants including calves and they objected to the number of elephants.
The State Government approved the project on February 21 , 2021 to set
up elephant camp in tree park beside Harangi Reservoir. Forest
officials planned to use 15 acres of tree park which has total area of 40 acres. The department would use the fund from Compensatory
Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA).
In the first stage, the State officials have planned to construct basic infrastructure such as quarters for mahouts and Kavadis, Sheds for elephants to feed, food stock room, dispensary etc. In the second stage the officials would take up all the other works.
Earlier the officials had decided to establish elephant camp beside
Chiklihole Reservoir near Nanjarayapatna. But due to opposition by villagers the idea was dropped.
Kushalnagar Range Forest Officer Ananya Kumar said that the work would begin soon after rain stops.
The higher officers would decide the number of elephants to be kept here. It is said that if 15 elephants would be shifted to Harangi Camp the burden on Dubare Elephant Camp would be eased. The State Government has also planned to develop Harangi Reservoir Park just like KRS Brindavan Gardens.
