Redundant elephants get jobs in tourist industry
Four “jobless” elephants from islands off the east coast of India have found new roles in wildlife reserves on the mainland.
Sharoon, Ambika, Sumitra and Mohini had been used in logging work but were left unemployed after a Supreme Court decision in 2001 to ban felling of trees on the islands.
Since then they have become a financial burden for the union territory, given their upkeep and massive diets.
They arrived at their new home after a long voyage by ship from Bay Islands in Andaman and Nicobar on May 10 and then began a journey on foot to reach the Pench and Satupura reserves in the state of Madhya Pradesh.
H S Pabla, principal chief conservator of forest (wildlife), said: “We brought these four elephants a few days ago. Two each have been involved in Pench and Satpura in the job of patrolling the jungles and ferrying tourists.”
“Officials from the Kanha Tiger Reserve (another sanctuary in the state) had gone to Andaman and Nicobar Island and they brought these elephants accompanied by their mahauts (the person who directs an elephant) to the state,” he said.
The state has asked for 20 elephants from the tropical islands. Having got four, they have now approached other states in the country for more, Mr Pabla added.
The Pench and Satpura reserves cover 292 sq miles and 202 sq miles respectively.
Both have populations of deer, Indian bison, leopard, monkeys, and four-horned antelope among others.
The state has recently come under fire for failing to sustain its tiger population where at least one park – Panna Tiger Reserve – showed not a single male big cat left within its boundaries.
