12 elephants to safeguard tigers at Jim Corbett

Rishikesh, July 28

Twelve domesticated elephants are likely to be relocated soon from Karnataka to the Jim Corbett Tiger Reserve to beef up security of tigers along the southern boundary of the sanctuary, which is porous.

The permission for relocating the elephants to Jim Corbett has been obtained from Karnataka Government, the Zoo Authority of India and the Forest and Environment Ministry, paving the way for their relocation, Jim Corbett Tiger Reserve Director Samir Sinha said.

He said normal vehicular patrolling was sometimes not adequate to ensure the safety of tigers at the reserve, especially its southern boundary. The elephants would be of immense help in the exercise.

With the relocation of 12 elephants kept at different camps in Karnataka at present, the number of domesticated and tamed pachyderms at the Jim Corbett Tiger Reserve will rise to 18, which will boost efforts by the reserve authorities to strengthen the safety of tigers along the park’s sensitive southern boundary, he added.—PTI