Chennai: It's fun and frolic for temple elephants at the annual rejuvenation camp at Thekkampatti in Mettupalayam in the state, and it commences from Friday.
The 20-year-old Andal from the renowned Sri Ranganathaswamy temple, Srirangam, and Lakshmi from the Manakkula Vinayagar temple, Puducherry, are among the 29 elephants from temples and mutts that would regain their health at the 48-day camp.
Chennai temples do not account for any elephants, according to sources. Officials of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR & CE) department have completed the basic work which includes providing sheds, cooking space and bathing spot at the camp on the banks of Bhavani river. Last year, about 33 elephants had attended the camp, which was a pet project initiated by late Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa.
The officials have exempted the aged and ailing elephants from attending the camp.
Upon their arrival, the elephants would be screened to assess their health condition. Following the medical check-up, a diet chart would be prepared for each elephant based on its gender, height, weight, and health factors.
The diet would include 11 types of greens, five varieties of grams, rice, ragi, sugarcane, seven types of medicines and vitamins and mineral supplements and chyawanprash.
The health of the mahouts would also be screened and they would be instructed to handle the jumbos with care and affection.
"They would be trained to identify any disease in the elephant and also monitor the diet being administered to them," an official said.
A team of veterinarians from the animal husbandry and forest department would join the HR & CE officials in conducting the camp. Public would be permitted to see the elephants at Theppakadu only for a few hours in the morning and evening.
This 11th edition of the annual camp which will be inaugurated by HR & CE minister Sevvoor S. Ramachandran in the presence of municipal administration minister S. P. Velumani and forests minister Dindigul C. Srinivasan, would be held amidst protests by local farmers against conducting the camp.
