CHENNAI: The Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR & CE) Department is considering the revival of a rejuvenation camp for elephants, maintained by various temples, under its jurisdiction. At present, there are 45 elephants in various temples that fall under the jurisdiction of the HR & CE Department. In 2003, Jayalalithaa, during her second tenure as the chief minister, had brought out a scheme to conduct rejuvenation camps for elephants after hearing of the plight of an old pachyderm that begged at a temple in Mylapore. Such camps were scrapped during the the DMK regime. "We have discussed ways to provide the best healthcare for elephants in temples and other places. In the last five years, eight elephants in various temples died due to various reasons, including lack of healthcare. However, the final decision on reviving camps will be taken by Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa," official sources said. In 2003, around 100 elephants drawn from various temples, mutts and individuals were taken to the Mudumalai wildlife sanctuary in the Nilgiris district for a sojourn. They were provided intensive medical care, a nourishing diet, exercise and refreshing daily splashes in a river. Jayalalithaa's scheme, though, received brickbats from certain quarters. She, however, brushed aside criticism, went ahead with the scheme and made it a success. "The scheme was launched for restoring the physical and mental health of the elephants held in captivity. The camps helped in bringing about a harmonious bonding among animals, human beings and between animals and the environment, apart from making possible valuable interaction among veterinary doctors, conservationists and nongovernmental organisations," she had said defending the scheme. The detailed medical case histories that they have been able to document provide valuable information on elephant conservation and care, she said. This time around, though, the HR CE officials are considering the revival of these rejuvenation camps with all precautions so that it would not attract any criticism. Dr Manohar of the forest department from Coimbatore and Peer Mohammed of Tenkasi, a veteran in rearing elephants, explained on Friday on how to maintain these pachyderms and to rejuvenate them. His lectures dealt with the nature of elephants, highly sensitive animals moving closely with human beings, the diseases they could suffer from, the ways to keep them happy and prevent them from illnesses. Around 20 mahouts from different parts of the State also expressed their views during the meeting on maintaining elephants.
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