Thrissur elephant squad members to attend national training camp in Gujarat
The participating handlers are members of the Elephant Squad operating at the Chittanda Gaja Natural Park, an elephant care and conservation centre managed under the Elephant Welfare Trust of India. The initiative aims to equip elephant handlers with professional training in humane care, safety protocols, and conservation ethics.
Elephants form an integral part of Kerala's vibrant temple festivals, including major and minor Poorams, church feasts, and other celebratory events. The Elephant Squad is a specialised team deployed to ensure the safety and well-being of elephants, as well as public safety, during these often crowded festivities.
Currently, the Elephant Welfare Trust of India has 50 trained squad members. Of these, 16 have been selected for the first phase of the training programme. According to Trust chairman K.P. Manojkumar and secretary P. Sashikumar, more handlers will be given the opportunity to attend advanced training sessions as part of the Ministry's ongoing skill enhancement initiatives.
The camp is expected to provide scientific and professional insights into elephant management, enhancing both the competence of handlers and the welfare of the animals in their care.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hindu
5 days ago
- The Hindu
Thrissur elephant squad members to attend national training camp in Gujarat
Sixteen elephant squad members from Thrissur will participate in a five-day all-India training camp organised under the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. The camp will be held from July 25 to 29 at the Radha Krishna Temple Elephant Welfare Trust in Gujarat. The participating handlers are members of the Elephant Squad operating at the Chittanda Gaja Natural Park, an elephant care and conservation centre managed under the Elephant Welfare Trust of India. The initiative aims to equip elephant handlers with professional training in humane care, safety protocols, and conservation ethics. Elephants form an integral part of Kerala's vibrant temple festivals, including major and minor Poorams, church feasts, and other celebratory events. The Elephant Squad is a specialised team deployed to ensure the safety and well-being of elephants, as well as public safety, during these often crowded festivities. Currently, the Elephant Welfare Trust of India has 50 trained squad members. Of these, 16 have been selected for the first phase of the training programme. According to Trust chairman K.P. Manojkumar and secretary P. Sashikumar, more handlers will be given the opportunity to attend advanced training sessions as part of the Ministry's ongoing skill enhancement initiatives. The camp is expected to provide scientific and professional insights into elephant management, enhancing both the competence of handlers and the welfare of the animals in their care.
New Indian Express
14-07-2025
- New Indian Express
No forest tampering in Odisha govt's new ecotourism policy move
BHUBANESWAR: Amid the controversy over attempts to create tourism facilities on forest land, the Odisha government is in the process of formulating a new ecotourism policy that aims at encouraging environmental conservation with tourism promotion and community development. The draft Odisha Ecotourism Policy 2025 proposes a significant shift in the way tourism infrastructure is planned and executed in ecologically sensitive areas. It mandates that no new accommodation will be developed within forest or protected areas in a routine manner. Instead, only day-tourism facilities will be allowed after thorough feasibility assessments. 'All new proposals for ecotourism development in forest and wildlife areas will be evaluated under the guidelines for Sustainable Ecotourism in Forest and Wildlife areas, 2021 issued by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), NTCA (Normative Standards for Tourism activities and Project Tiger), 2012 and the Forest (Conservation) Amendment Act, 2023,' the draft stated. The new policy will promote quiet and immersive visitor experiences, focusing on natural and cultural heritage, conservation and livelihood options for the local community. However, opening of new destinations other than forest and wildlife areas will be taken up by other line departments. The wildlife wing of the Forest department will be responsible for infrastructure development and circuit improvement within protected and forest areas, while the Tourism department will manage destination development in non-forest revenue areas.
Time of India
08-07-2025
- Time of India
Kevay Mata temple ropeway project gets final approval, work set to begin soon
Jaipur: The much-anticipated ropeway to Kevay Mata Temple, located atop a hill in Kinlaria village of Parbatsar tehsil, received final approval from the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change. With this clearance, groundwork for the project is set to begin soon, and it is expected to be completed within 1.5 years. The proposed ropeway will connect the foothills of Kinlaria village to the temple site at the summit, offering a convenient and time-saving travel option for pilgrims and visitors. The project received final forest clearance under the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980. An official said, "As per the approval, 0.7712 hectare of forest land has been marked for diversion for the construction of the ropeway. This includes 0.2341 hectare for the lower terminal station, 0.4556 hectare for the upper terminal station, and 0.0815 hectares for six tower foundations." The forest department submitted the proposal for land diversion, which was reviewed and recommended by the state-level empowered committee before being forwarded to the central govt for final sanction. "After multiple rounds of scrutiny and compliance with all legal requirements, the project received the green light," the official added. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Is it better to shower in the morning or at night? Here's what a microbiologist says CNA Read More Undo Situated in hilly terrain, the Kevay Mata Temple has long awaited improved accessibility. With the ropeway project now approved, devotees and tourists will soon have a much safer and easier route to reach the temple. The final approval not only clears the way for the physical execution of the project but also allows for the immediate initiation of the tendering process. Once construction begins, the ropeway is expected to be completed within 18 months, at an estimated cost of Rs 25 crore. Officials said, all environmental and forest-related formalities have been completed, and the project will now move swiftly to the implementation phase. "The cost of felling trees shall be deposited by the user agency with the State Forest Department. No labour camps shall be established on the forest land, and the user agency shall provide fuels—preferably alternative fuels—to labourers and staff working at the site, so as to avoid any damage or pressure on the nearby forest areas," the official said.
