Kushalnagar:
– Marking the 57th Wildlife Week an ‘Elephant Utsav’ has been organised by the District Forest Department and Wildlife Division on Oct. 31 at Dubare Elephant Camp.

Briefing about the Utsav here yesterday, Kushalnagar Range Forest Officer M.M. Achappa said “the programme to be held from 9 am to 12 noon that day will feature various games for the tamed elephants housed in the camp. The elegantly decorated elephants will also participate in an eating competition. On the lines of Dasara, the elephants will be bathed in river Cauvery and after feeding will be caparisoned and decorated.”

Continuing Achappa said “the mahouts have been strenuously training the elephants in running race, football, eating sugarcane, obedience to masters, rescuing the injured mahouts and Kavadis from forest, group activities and a variety of other items which will surely enthral the tourists. The sprawling ground in front of the old Ins-pection Bungalow in Dubare has been readied for the Utsav which is aimed to subdue the elephant-human conflict and also bring in awareness on preservation of wildlife among the people.”

As part of the Utsav competitions have been arranged in quiz, extempore speech, painting and singing with special relevance to environment, forest and wildlife for students of schools and colleges in Somwarpet.

Madikeri DCF K.S. Anand, Wildlife DFO Motappa and Somwarpet ACF Prasanna Kumar are also expected to participate in the Utsav, according to sources.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / General News / October 29th, 2011