Trainee jumbo to be state employee

JALPAIGURI: The forest department on Wednesday started official training of a 14-year-old male elephant, Aranya, christened so by Mamata Banerjee.
The jumbo was caught from Burdwan in June and sent to Gorumara National Park's pilkhana (where elephants are trained) in Jalpaiguri after he entered Burdwan University . After training as a kunki, he will be recruited by the forest department as a state employee.
Based on his trainers' reports, he was recruited by the forest department.He will receive all retirement benefits once he retires.
The elephant had strayed out of a forest in Bankura and crossed into Burdwan district, where he entered Burdwan University . Tanquillized and sent to Gorumara, Aranya initially would try to break free.He started cooperating with trainers after vets removed an arrowhead from his stomach.
“Aranya is adapting to the systems of our department.We are hopeful he will turn into a kunki in two years,“ said Nisha Goswami, divisional forest officer of Gorumara forest division.