Suttur Mutt hands over two elephants to Mysuru Zoo

Zoo Authority says rules don’t allow exchange of animals with religious institutions

Two elephants were handed over to Mysuru Zoo by Suttur Mutt on Monday. Zoo executive director Kamala Karikalan and Suttur Mutt seer Shivarathri Deshikendra Swami are seen | Udayshankar S

MYSURU: The Suttur Mutt on Monday handed over two elephants — Champa and Drona — to the Mysuru Zoo following directions from the Central Zoo Authority (CZA).
The mutt had received these elephants from the Forest Department a few years ago in exchange for two other elephants — Masti and Lakshmi. But the CZA, which had raised objection to the exchange of animals, had issued a direction to take them back. The rules do not allow exchange of animals with religious institutions. The CZA had directed the mutt to take back elephants Masti and Lakshmi who were earlier with it.

But mutt seer Shivarathri Deshikendra refused to take them back as it is said to be difficult to handle them and at times they get violent. Masti is at Thithimathi elephant camp in Kodagu while Lakshmi is housed at Bannerghatta National Park in Bengaluru.
On Monday, the caparisoned elephants were handed over to Kamala Karikalan, executive director of the Zoo, amid chanting of vedic hymns and in the presence of the mutt seer. Kamala told reporters that the elephants will be housed at the zoo rehabilitation centre at Koorgalli. Both Champa and Drona were brought to the mutt from Bannerghatta National Park.

At the mutt, the animals were used in religious and cultural processions. There were also incidents of these elephants going out of control of its caretakers.
A press release from the mutt said there was pressure from the CZA to return the elephants and the mutt handed them over for better upkeep.  It is said the mutt had informed Union Minister and animal activist Maneka Gandhi about their plans to return the elephants when she visited the mutt sometime ago.

Efforts on to drive away jumbo herd
Kolar: Forest Department personnel, who are involved in an operation to chase away a herd of elephants in Kolar, may drive it away on Tuesday. After a long struggle of 18 days by the officials, the herd of elephants is slowly moving towards Kamasamudra forest area, sources said. The elephants are likely to enter Andhra Pradesh or Tamil Nadu by Tuesday afternoon, said DCF Ramalinga Gowda.