Visiting cards from elephant dung? That is what the West Bengal forest department has on its cards.

Six months from now, the department plans to start handing over visiting cards crafted out of tones of pachyderm dung to its middle and senior level officials, using a very hi-tech Japanese technology.

"We have procured the Japanese technology, got our people trained and are now ready to roll out visiting cards from elephant waste," district forest officer(DFO), Coochbehar in North Bengal Manindra Biswas told this correspondent.

The forest department in North Bengal has a pool of nearly 57 male and female elephants for lifting logs, eco-tourism and routine patrol through dense jungles. It has been struggling with means for safe disposal of a huge daily waste arising out of the 57-member strong pachyderm family in its stable.

"Elephant dung was not only a threat to the pachyderm population as it contains elements potentially dangerous and capable of spreading disease among the herd, the strong stench made it difficult for forest workers to clear the place daily," Mr Biswas pointed out.

A group of Japanese tourists who visited the Jaldapara Wildlife Sanctuary last year offered their assistance to find a remedy. We shortly hope to formally launch the visiting card project,  he said.