West Bengal sanctuary’s captive elephants enjoy a day off

JALPAIGURI - Captive elephants, who perform various tasks in the Jaldapara Wildlife Sanctuary situated in West Bengal’s Jalpaiguri District were granted a day’s holiday by wildlife officials.

The forest officials use elephants to supervise the area since much of the sanctuary is inaccessible by vehicle or on foot.

“Jaldapara Wildlife Sanctuary is famous for One-Horned Rhino. We have vehicles like jeep and other instrument for protection of rhino. But due to (the fact that) maximum area is inaccessible here, elephant has important role, because in those inaccessible area, patrolling is done by elephants,” Buddhadeb Mondol, a ranger of the sanctuary’s East Range said on Friday.

Except a day-off, elephants were also given a royal treatment, which includes being worshipped and being fed choicest meals.

Their holiday started with a bath in the river, in which they were helped by the mahouts.

The mahouts then decorated the elephants and gave them special food that included their favourite, sugarcane.

“Today, we are worshipping the elephants and they are given special baths and decorated with colours and cloth. They are served a menu comprising apples, bananas and sugarcane. To them, this is the day when they are granted a whole day for enjoyment as we want them to remain happy throughout the day,” said Kharke Bahadur, a mahout. By Tarak Sarkar (ANI)