COIMBATORE: The Tamil Nadu forest department is working on a proposal to open the newly upgraded Chadivayal Elephant Camp near the Siruvani foothills of the Western Ghats to the public to watch captive elephants being fed and bathed.Located on the road leading to the Kovai Kutralam falls, the camp is expected to draw tourists who visit the popular waterfall in large numbers. Forest officials say nearly 2,000 people visit the Kovai Kutralam on weekends while the weekday footfall is around 500. If it is opened to the public, the elephant camp is expected to become a major eco-tourism attraction in Coimbatore district.The camp, which was developed at a cost of Rs 8 crore and inaugurated by former deputy chief minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, has been upgraded into a full-fledged captive elephant rehabilitation and conflict-management centre. The facility can accommodate up to 18 elephants and has shelters, mahout quarters, bathing areas, a natural pond, a kraal for training and kitchens to prepare diet-based food for the animals.Forest officials are now working out visiting hours so that tourism activities do not disturb the elephants’ daily routine. Officials say the Kovai Kutralam is open to visitors between 10am and 4.30pm, while the elephants are usually fed around 8.30am and 5.30pm. The department is examining whether feeding and bathing schedules can be planned in a way that allows public viewing without affecting animal welfare or forest safety.D Venkatesan, chief conservator of forests and field director of Anamalai Tiger Reserve, says forest officials and veterinarians are discussing the modalities for regulated public access. The model is expected to be like elephant camps at Theppakadu in Mudumalai and Kozhikamuthi in Anamalai Tiger Reserve, where tourists are allowed to watch elephants during specific hours.The Chadivayal camp currently houses four elephants. Muthu, a 24-year-old male elephant earlier known as “Arisi Raja” for raiding houses for rice near Pollachi, and Kaveri, a 17-year-old female elephant, were shifted from Kozhikamuthi elephant camp. Muthu is expected to be used as a kumki for driving away wild elephants that stray into farmlands in Coimbatore while Kaveri will not be deployed for conflict operations.John, a 35-year-old male elephant from Theppakadu, was also moved to Chadivayal. He was stationed at the camp in 2018 for conflict-mitigation work in Coimbatore forest fringes. Sumangala, an adult female elephant rescued as an orphaned calf in 1988, became the fourth occupant after being shifted from Mudumalai for care and routine management following recovery from a leg injury.A forest department official gas said plans are under way to bring more elephants to the camp. “Since there is no such facility in Coimbatore district, opening Chadivayal to the public will create awareness about elephants and offer visitors a new experience,” the official says.
