Kerala - Pathanamthitta   

Jumbo plans to tap tourism potential

Radhakrishnan Kuttoor

Jungle trek: A sojourn on the back of an elephant.

PATHANAMTHITTA: It’s more of an elephant ride than a safari. No wonder, the ride at the elephant camp at Konni becomes a thrilling experience to the visitors. The joint venture eco-tourism project set up by the departments of Forests and Tourism at the century-old elephant camp is fast turning out to be a big hit.

The inflow of tourists, both foreign and native, to this small hamlet adjoining the Konni forests is on the rise, sending an encouraging signal to its promoters who have chalked out other eco-tourism ventures too for this part of the State blessed with verdant hills and dales. As many as 165 foreign tourists have visited the elephant camp in the past two months, says P.K. Jayakumar Sarma, Forest Range Officer who is the officer-in-charge of the project.

The elephant camp acts as a facilitation centre for eco-tourism activities like trekking, rock climbing and river rafting in the nearby forest areas.

The camp was opened on February 1 and since then, it has been witnessing a moderate inflow of tourists, says Mr. Sarma. Revenue by way of entry fee and other entertainment charges in May alone was Rs. 1,00,265, he said.

The sojourn on the back of an elephant offers a unique opportunity to appreciate nature. Two pachyderms and four mahouts at the Konni camp are being spared for the elephant ride in the sprawling premises.

The ride starts with the mahouts briefing about the pachyderm’s care, feeding, local ecology, preservation efforts, etc. Then, the 15-minute trip on the elephant-back begins. Children and youth are more interested in the elephant ride while the senior citizens enjoy the serene nature.

The facilities at the centre include an elephant museum, elephant kraal, a mini-theatre where documentaries on elephants and wildlife protection are screened, retiring rooms for mahouts, an administrative block, shops that sell forest produces, cafeteria and elephant shelters.

A day-long jungle trek is being organised on a daily basis to three routes, viz, Elimulumplackal-Mundommooozhy, Manneera-Thalamanam and to Kattathi rock. Conservator of Forests V.S. Varghese said that two-day jungle trek with night stay in the jungle would also be launched as part of the eco-tourism project. Mr. Sarma said that efforts were on to bring a four-year old baby elephant, Eva, to Konni from the elephant kraal at Kodanad near Perumbavoor. Rock climbing and river rafting would be introduced at the Konni eco-tourism centre in a phased manner. Vana Samrakshana Samiti workers would be appointed guides to take tourists for jungle treks and other eco-tourism activities.

The camp is designed to be a zero-waste centre where the elephant dung generated is being converted into biogas. Fibre in the dung will be converted into hand-made paper, an eco-friendly product.

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