Rejuvenation camp for temple elephants begins in Tamil Nadu

Rejuvenation camp for temple elephants began today at Thekkampatti on the Banks of Bhavani river near Mettupalayam, about 50 km from here.
Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Minister Kamaraj inaugurated the 48-day camp in which a total of 30 female elephants are taking part.
There will be special diet for the pachyderms, taking into account their age and body status with individual mahouts attending the day to day activities, officials said.
Besides sugarcane, banana and palm leaves, the elephants will be fed ragi, rice, horse grams and green grams with special medicines prescribed by the veterinarians from time to time, they said.

While eight-year-old Sundaravalli from Kallalagar Temple and Deivanai from Tirupuramkunram, both in Madurai, were the youngest, 48-year-old Abhayambika from Mayilatudhurai was the eldest elephant at the camp, the officials said.
Meanwhile, tension prevailed at the solar fenced camp, following appearance of a wild tusker near it who were scared away by bursting crackers, they said.
Vigil in the camp would be increased to prevent wild elephants coming near to the camp, officials added.