A rejuvenation camp for temple elephants in Tamil Nadu, a pet project of late Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, will begin on Thursday at Thekkamapatti in Coimbatore district.
48-day stay
Thirty-three elephants from different temples and mutts are expected to participate in the 48-day camp, launched by the State government in 2003, official sources said.
So far eight jumbos have reached the camp, about 50 km from here. The first five camps were held at Theppakkadu in Mudumalal Tiger Reserve in Nilgiris district. Besides facilities for the mahouts, the camp has a special kitchen, dining hall, high mast lamp posts and shower baths.
The premises are protected by solar fences, particularly to prevent the entry of wild elephants from nearby jungles.