Elephants to be moved from K Gudi camp to Budipadaga

Mysuru: The forest department has prepared to move the K Gudi Elephant Camp in BRT Tiger Reserve to the new set-up of Budipadaga Elephant Camp at Punajanur range. A wild safari at Budipadaga is also on the anvil.
The process will be completed in three months. Initially, four elephants will be housed at the camp, with the numbers set to go up to 10 in a phased manner.
Currently, the K Gudi camp has only one elephant.
The jumbos to be housed in Budipadaga will be trained, tamed and used to rescue wild animals.
Speaking to STOI, T Heeralal, the chief conservator of forests (Chamarajanagar Circle), said barring minor works such as electrification and drainage, the Budipadaga camp is ready to huse the jumbos.
The new elephant camp at Budipadaga has been set up near the forest department’s guesthouse. Staff quarters have been built for the mahouts, kavadis and their families, equipped with a kitchen, storeroom, toilets, and supply of drinking water. Washrooms have also been built for the tourists at the new camp.
A fencing has been erected around the camp, along with rail barricades, to prevent the animals from straying out. The forest department also plans to take up underground electrical wiring to prevent accidental electrocutions.
Earlier, green activists had opposed moving of the jumbos to Budipadaga from K Gudi camp as the new area fell under the core reserve forest area.