Guwahati: Kaziranga national park and tiger reserve (KNPTR) has opened an Elephant Feeding Center at Mihimukh, a first of its kind initiative in the state to attract tourists.
Tourists will now be able to feed elephants close by by paying a minimum fee under the supervision of a veterinarian and a mahout. “A total of 15 elephants can be fed at a time. All our domestic elephants are from Kaziranga and the government pays for the daily ration,” said KNPTR director P Shivakumar,
He said the center would help in developing an understanding among tourists about coexistence with animals. “Man-animal conflict is not a major issue in Kaziranga. Even during floods, the surrounding villagers protect the animals and hence Kaziranga is a success story,” said Shivakumar, adding that the center will help visitors to understand the elephant behavior better. Human-elephant conflict is a major issue in many parts of the state, especially during the paddy-harvesting season.
Mihimukh Gate was regularly visited by people to watch and feed the elephants, although it was not well maintained. MK YadavThe Chief Wildlife Warden, Assam inaugurated the “Hathi Camp” (Domestic Elephant Feeding Centre) for the tourists, where the visiting timings would be from 3.30 PM to 5 PM. Yadav Said that tourists will be able to feed the elephants, but in the presence of the mahout, so that no untoward incident takes place.
While such facilities attract a large number of tourists to South India, the opening of the center in Kaziranga will introduce tourists to the food habits of Jumbo. Bibhuti Ranjan Gogoi, Range Forest Officer, Kaziranga Range, Kohora, said, “The KNPTR authority feeds the elephants taken out on safari in the afternoon. But in the feeding center, tourists will be able to enjoy feeding the animals from the platform.
Banana trees, gram and sugarcane are the major staples of elephants. “We have made a platform at a safe distance from where tourists can enjoy food,” he said.
Tourists will now be able to feed elephants close by by paying a minimum fee under the supervision of a veterinarian and a mahout. “A total of 15 elephants can be fed at a time. All our domestic elephants are from Kaziranga and the government pays for the daily ration,” said KNPTR director P Shivakumar,
He said the center would help in developing an understanding among tourists about coexistence with animals. “Man-animal conflict is not a major issue in Kaziranga. Even during floods, the surrounding villagers protect the animals and hence Kaziranga is a success story,” said Shivakumar, adding that the center will help visitors to understand the elephant behavior better. Human-elephant conflict is a major issue in many parts of the state, especially during the paddy-harvesting season.
Mihimukh Gate was regularly visited by people to watch and feed the elephants, although it was not well maintained. MK YadavThe Chief Wildlife Warden, Assam inaugurated the “Hathi Camp” (Domestic Elephant Feeding Centre) for the tourists, where the visiting timings would be from 3.30 PM to 5 PM. Yadav Said that tourists will be able to feed the elephants, but in the presence of the mahout, so that no untoward incident takes place.
While such facilities attract a large number of tourists to South India, the opening of the center in Kaziranga will introduce tourists to the food habits of Jumbo. Bibhuti Ranjan Gogoi, Range Forest Officer, Kaziranga Range, Kohora, said, “The KNPTR authority feeds the elephants taken out on safari in the afternoon. But in the feeding center, tourists will be able to enjoy feeding the animals from the platform.
Banana trees, gram and sugarcane are the major staples of elephants. “We have made a platform at a safe distance from where tourists can enjoy food,” he said.
,