More than nine lakh rupees is expected to be spent on bringing in four elephants from Karnataka to the Palamu Tiger Reserve. As per plans, four trucks will carry the elephants through roads via Chhatisgarh to PTR. It may take four to five days to bring in these elephants with all comfort.
The Mahouts of these elephants will be with them along with the vet doctors as the jumbos are expected to join PTR by March end. MP Singh, Additional principal chief conservator of forest and PTR Director said there is fund for the transit of elephants from Karnataka.
Singh said all precaution will be taken for their easy and comfortable journey as it is true the elephants will be on their legs in each of the four trucks for quite a longer duration of the entire road journey from Karnataka to PTR.
The Karnataka government has approved deportation of two female and two male elephants to Jharkhand which would be used as tourist amenities in the tiger reserve. Earlier it was planned to send three female and one male calf.
MP Singh confirming this said the Karnataka government has dropped a female elephant ‘Maithili’ from being deported from Karnataka to PTR and in her place a male elephant is to come here called ‘Rave’. ‘Seeta’ and ‘Gangey’ female elephants are coming along with a 9 month old male calf.
The four elephants on their arrival here will be lodged in old Palamu fort. This place has been chosen as the abode of these elephants. The elephants will be used for patrolling and safari reiterated Singh saying it will take some time when these will be doing the job of safari for the tourists as our prime concern is that these elephants on their arrival here get adjusted to the new environments here.
On food front Singh does not find any difference between Karnataka and PTR as elephants remain herbivore and eat the food like banyan, peepal, bamboo etc everywhere. On being asked if these four new arrivals here will be allowed to move around PTR’s jungles Singh said this will be done so as to build their confidence, adaptability and further to enhance their quest for food of their choice.