Bangalore:
The Forest Department has given permission for a private elephant owner from Kerala to keep two jumbos in Bangalore for a period of five to six weeks for the sake of devotees of Lord Aiyappa.
Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Wildlife, B K Singh told Express that the elephants were permitted in the State, but maintained it was not for a long period.
However, permission has been given with a condition that the jumbos should not be used for commercial purposes.
The owner, however, is allowed to recover feeding charges from the organisers.
The mahouts were instructed to keep the elephants under control.
Singh said the elephants are like pets, especially in Kerala which has a maximum number of jumbos. They are used in timber yard and also in temples. In Karnataka, the pachyderms are used in estate works in Moodigere, Koppa and Madikeri.
The Principal Chief Conservator of Forests said he had no reasons to deny permission to bring elephants provided the elephants are taken care well. "I am not aware of the fact that the private elephant owners charge Rs 25,000 to spare the services of each elephant per day. If that money is for feeding purposes then the department does not have any objection".
He said the practice of giving elephants on rent is not seen in Karnataka.
Besides, the government has strictly banned the sale and purchase of elephants.
Under these circumstances, many who own elephants in Kerala take them to different cities for festivals.