An elephantine effort

Jotirmay Thapliyal

Never in the history of independent India have nine elephants been transported from the South to the Himalayan foothills in a single convoy. That too in a road journey of more than 2,500 km, traversing the states of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh before reaching its final destination, the Corbett Tiger Reserve in Uttarakhand. But the Uttarakhand wildlife authorities made it happen.

A need for camp elephants had been felt in the forest-predominant Uttarakhand for more than a decade. However, the efforts initiated earlier could not materialise due to complexities of getting clearances, unavailability of surplus elephants with other states to spare, etc. The shortage of camp elephants had been affecting patrolling and eco-tourism in wildlife parks like Corbett National Park and Rajaji Tiger Reserve. The elephant safari, quite popular with the tourists, was also hit due to lack of camp elephants.

After much search and numerous correspondences, the Uttarakhand wildlife authorities zeroed in on Karnataka, which had some spare elephants at its Nagarhole National Park. Dr Dhananjaya Mohan, Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, was assigned the task and appointed nodal officer for the same.

To begin with, there was lot of paperwork involved. Clearances had to be taken from the National Tiger Conservation Authority, Central Zoo Authority, Director Project Elephant and then Karnataka elephants. From the end of 2015 till July 2016, all key clearances were taken. Following this, there were several rounds of selection. Nine pachyderms were identified, including two calves, which were camping in Nagarhole in Karnataka. These elephants were 15-year-old female Tunga, along with her calf, 32-year-old female Kapila, along with her calf, other two females Kenchamba (20 years), Shivganga (25) and the three males Karna (6), Bhishma (9) and Gajaraja (10). The nine elephants were put on day-to-day monitoring so as to ensure that they were physically fit and in sound health, before they undertake the arduous journey.

A team of Uttarakhand forest officials reached Karnataka months before the date of departure to make the necessary preparations. However, transporting the elephants was quite a task. An entire course of action was charted out. It needed huge trucks and expert drivers. Halting points were identified. Fodder and water arrangements were put in place. Trucks loaded with fodder and water tankers formed an integral part of the convoy. A team of veterinary officers was set up to accompany the convoy. To ensure that the elephants would be at ease, mahouts who had been taking care of these elephants in Karnataka accompanied them.

The Uttarakhand Chief Secretary and Uttarakhand Director-General of Police wrote to their counterparts in all states from which the convoy had to pass seeking their cooperation. Similarly, the Uttarakhand Chief Wildlife Warden DVS Khati, too, sounded all his counterparts in all these states.

After much legwork, the D-day came. The convoy started from Karnataka on February 20 after being flagged off by senior forest officials, both from Karnataka and Uttarakhand. As many as eight 10-wheel trucks were pressed into service for ferrying the elephants. Sintex water tanks, along with pumps and a total of 18 persons, including helpers and mahouts from Karnataka and Uttarakhand, accompanied the convoy. At every halt, trucks were cleaned, and the elephants given bath. Adequate fodder, which had been loaded on the trucks, too was provided to the elephants at periodic intervals.

The convoy from Karnataka entered Andhra Pradesh, and then moved through Telangana, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. It made halts at many places before finally reaching Kalagarh at the Corbett Tiger Reserve in Uttarakhand on February 25, completing the entire journey within five days.

“Initially it seemed tough since such a long distance transport of elephants had not been attempted before. However, as we progressed, we gained confidence, and finally succeeded in safely bringing all nine elephants to Corbett ,” Dhananjaya Mohan said. “It was a sigh of relief as the elephants reached their destination. All nine elephants have reported fine,” Mohan added.

Corbett veterinary officer Dr Dushyant Sharma, who accompanied the elephants all through, said the elephants showed signs of normal health during the entire journey. They had regular checkups and were provided with all comfort, he added.

The elephants have started adapting themselves to their new home in Kalagarh. The mahouts, who accompanied them from Karnataka, would be staying in Uttarakhand for nearly a month till the elephants get acclimatised and become friendly with the local mahouts. “Special facility has been created. The elephants are doing fine and will soon be out on patrol”, said Surendra Mehra, Director, Corbett Tiger Reserve. “There are several areas in Corbett that become inaccessible during the monsoon due to the presence of seasonal rivers like Haldupadav. The elephants will be helpful in patrolling such areas”, Mehra added.