Create infrastructure before transporting elephants.

Wildlife experts seem to be divided on the feasibility of holding a healthcare camp for elephants at the Mudumalai sanctuary from the middle of November. Their doubts centre on the limited infrastructure available to handle a huge number of pachyderms at one place.

The programme envisages a month-long holiday every year for the animals. They will be kept in cool forest environs and provided special medical attention and nourishment.

Forest department officials say about 80 elephants from various parts of the State are expected to participate in the camp.

To begin with, the authorities have to build up adequate supply of cut fodder and supplementary feed. Harvesting plants from the sanctuary will not be allowed, say the researchers. If it is permitted, it will increase pressure on the sanctuary, which is already under pressure. They have to ensure good veterinary care in the camp. Only after creating these facilities, can the animals be brought there, say elephant specialists.

Researchers say the elephants will have to be transported during cooler hours, (both in the morning and evening) and given rest during mid-day.

The camps should be spread over two or three places, says R. Sukumar, Chairman, International Union for Conservation of Natural Flora and Fauna's Asian Elephants Specialists Group. He says there is no need for sedating the pachyderms during transportation, but a veterinarian will have to accompany the animals.

Sanctuary authorities have suggested two places for the camp. However, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments department authorities want it organised at Theppakkadu alone.

The animals need a lot of water, but not enough supply may be available there, and hence the suggestion to split the camp into two groups, say the sanctuary authorities.

Experienced wildlife veterinarians say that in Tamil Nadu, a majority of the temples and private people own only cow elephants.

All they have to do is to train them to board a lorry. Once they are familiar with the process, they will not create any problem, says a senior veterinary officer.

However, the Government will have to alert veterinarians in each district while transporting the animals in a lorry as is the practice while an elephant is transported by the Forest department. When contacted, Animal Husbandry department officials said they had so far not received any such request from the HR & CE department.

Asked whether a month-long holiday in sylvan, natural surroundings will induce any behavioural change in the pachyderms, Dr. Jacob Cheeran, an elephant specialist from Thrissur, Kerala, says: "Certainly there will not be any change in their behaviour." A month's stay in the forests will surely improve the health of the animals.

The rejuvenation programme is implemented in Kerala even today, he says.