Mathigodu elephant camp faces water, fodder shortage

The Mathigodu Elephant Camp has been facing water and fodder shortage. Two months ago, the camp, where rogue elephants are tamed, had  35 jumbos but now only 25 have been left behind as the remaining are relocated to Kallalla camp.

The waterbody at the camp has gone dry while the one inside the forest nearby is filled with silt making the water unfit for consumption and insufficient for bathing elephants.

Power supply
Though there is enough water in the borewell at the camp, erratic power supply has been affecting pumping of water.

At present, cement tanks have been built at various locations in the camp for quenching the thirst of elephants and they are being fed hay mixed with jaggery and paddy.

With no green leaves in sight, elephants have become weak and are understandably irritable too.

A staffer at the camp said, “An elephant requires 300 kg to 400 kg of food daily in addition to adequate quantities of water. But, we are unable to supply them with the required food.”

Mahouts give the example of a rogue elephant that was captured at Sakleshpura two years ago and was brought in a weak condition to the camp. After consuming green leaves and a good diet, it gained weight.

Considering its physical stature, the mahouts fondly named the elephant ‘Srikantadatta’. Currently Srikantadatta has become weak and unrecognisable.

Another mahout said without the availability of green leaves and shrubs inside the forest, elephants left for grazing in the morning return to the camp immediately. He said a deficit rainfall this year has aggravated the situation.