Trained Elephant  Management:

A departmental ‘Pilkhana’ for trained elephants has been maintained in Bansbari Range. This Pilkhana at the moment maintains twenty three elephants. The female ‘Makhnas’ are regularly impregnated by wild male elephants resulting in the increase of our captive elephants. The surrounding is very natural, and food and water are found in the close proximity of the Pilkhana. As elephants are kept together, the enmasse administration of various medicines and vaccination etc. are easy. A departmental elephant onduty should be, by 9-30 AM in hot season and by 10-00 O’clock in the cold season be relieved of its “Gaddi and Gadia” wherever they may in the jungle. Otherwise gall formation will take place rendering the elephants out of duty for a long period. Gaddi can be refitted around 2-30 to 3-00 PM of the same day. The Range Forest Officer, the Veterinary Assistant Surgeon and the Head Mahout must inspect the elephants three to four times a week. The hygiene of Pilkhana should be of absolutely the highest order. Every elephant must have its own file containing relevant records and when it grows too old should be taken off duty and put under charge of a responsible Ghasi cum mahout for its care. Once a departmental female becomes pregnant; she must also be similarly treated and her quota of green fodder and ration should be increased.

Traditionally, from March – April onwards the departmental koonkis receive 5 kg of gram while on duty; and half of that while off duty. Supplements like vitamins and minerals should be provided as and when the Veterinary Assistant Surgeon prescribes. During winter from October to February an elephant on duty traditionally receives 10 Kg of paddy on duty and 5 Kg off duty. The parasitic infestations are very common. All the elephant should be dewormed twice a year for both lever flukes and worms. At present medicines like ‘Tolzan’ and ‘Panacur’ have been extensively utilized for de-worming. Daily bath for a departmental elephant must be carried out as elaborately as possible in streams containing fresh and safe drinking water. The use of scrubbing brick call jhama is mandatory. Attention should also be given to the foot pad hygine of the elephants, so that “Kan” does not form. Traditional medicines available should also be administered as another line of defense. In the recent years, mostly on personal basis and unofficial tie with doctors from College of Veterinary Science have been maintained for well- being of the Koonkis. This should be continued.

In the event of a male Tusker or Makhna going musth; following precautions are to be taken-

1. On the onset the elephant should be engaged in heavy duty.
2. Rations should be reduced to keep the animal in a weak condition.

In slightly violent form, all the four legs should be tethered by chains and kept separately under guard. Administration of Hellaburn mixture can effectively control musth condition. Traditionally, administration of 1 to 1.5 Kg of gartic administered along with ration may obviate the very early stages. In some cases putting one clove each in the temporal glands ameliorate the condition in ‘Pani-bhati’ stage. The mahouts and the grass cutters are a class apart and for their welfare few think positively. Their salary should be increased and medically checked so that the elephants do not pick-up communicable diseases. As per earlier estimation of wild elephants in Manas national Park about 500 (five hundred) elephants make up the population. Supposing this population increases due to inward migration pushing the number elephants too high, which will be characterized by severe elephant depredation, the management will have to step in drastically. Since culling will never be allowed, only choice will be capturing sub- adults, juveniles by ‘Melasikar’ method, then training them departmentally to augment the number of trained elephants.
 

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