BARIPADA: The Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR) authorities have decided to introduce elephant rides to attract tourists to the reserve that suffered Maoists’ rampage in March and April this year.
Sources at the Similipal Eco-tourism Society (SES) said three pet elephants of the reserve - Bhawani (51), Sova (52) and Mahendra (43)- would be used for the purpose. These elephants had been brought in from the Hamsur wildlife division of Rajiv Gandhi National Park in Karnataka in December 2001 to combat poaching and timber smuggling in the STR.
This was decided at the fourth annual general body meeting of the Similipal Eco-tourism Society (SES) held here Tuesday. Chief Conservator of Forests, Baripada Circle-cum-Field Director of the STR, R.Nagaraja Reddy presided over the meeting.
As per the decision, a single group comprising four tourists can take the elephant rides along the banks of the river Khairi, flanked by the scenic beauties of Similipal hills via Gudgudia. The tourists have to pay a tariff of Rs 100 per person for one-hour elephant ride.
Speaking at the meeting, Saroj Kumar Patnaik, retired PCCF (Wildlife) and President of the Centre for Bio-diversity Conservation, suggested that only day tourists be allowed to visit Chahala complex during the next tourism season. No night halts should be allowed at Chahala complex, he said. Among others, Deputy Director of the STR-cum-Secretary of the Similipal Eco-Tourism Society, Manoj V.Nair, the DFOs of Baripada, Karanjia and Rairangpur were present.