Echo of tourist death at Dubare

No more touching, feeding or selfies with jumbos; 10-metre safety buffer

Mysuru: The Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) framed following the tragic death of a Chennai-based woman tourist at Dubare Elephant Camp have been implemented at all elephant camps in Kodagu.

Following the implementation of the SOPs, the Harangi Tree Park and Elephant Camp and the Mathigodu Elephant Camp were thrown open to tourists on Sept. 3. The Dubare camp is likely to reopen this week or early next week.

The elephant camps had been shut following the tourist’s death. S. Juneshe (33), a homemaker from Chennai, was killed after being trapped under an elephant during a fight between captive elephants Kanjan and Jai Marthanda while visiting the camp with her family in May. Jai Marthanda also died later.

Strict zoning, barriers

Earlier, tourists at the elephant camps were allowed to move around freely and interact closely with the elephants. Under the new measures, strict zoning and physical metal barriers have been installed to prevent unrestricted access to the animals.

The SOPs, issued by Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) Kumar Pushkar, ban close-contact tourism in favour of strictly regulated and educational eco-tourism.

Tourists are prohibited from touching, hand-feeding or bathing elephants, or taking close-up selfies with them. Camp facilities have been divided into Red, Amber and Green zones.

The ‘Red Zone’ comprises the elephant operational arena meant only for staff, while the ‘Amber Zone’ covers controlled staff transit routes. The ‘Green Zone’ consists of barricaded visitor viewing galleries.

Safety distance

Visitors can observe elephants only from behind barricades in the ‘Green Zone’ and must maintain a minimum distance of 10 metres. Staff are required to conduct daily assessments of each elephant and categorise them as calm, restless or aggressive/musth. Only calm elephants will be allowed in public viewing areas.

Public display is restricted to a maximum of 10 elephants per session, with each batch limited to 50 to 75 visitors for 45 to 60 minutes. The camps must also observe a weekly closure day to allow the animals to rest and maintain 24×7 CCTV surveillance in key operational areas.

Crowd and visitor management

Speaking to Star of Mysore, N. Lakshmikanth, Asst. Conservator of Forests (ACF), Hunsur Wildlife Sub-Division, Nagarahole Tiger Reserve, who oversees the Mathigodu Elephant Camp, said the camp has been reopened with a temporary barricade arrangement while further infrastructure development is underway.

“SOPs and safety protocols are being strictly implemented, including the use of ropes and maintaining the required physical distance for crowd and visitor management. All elephants intended for display undergo an initial health check-up and behavioural observation early in the morning before being released or stationed,” he said.

A separate register is being maintained to record the health and behavioural details of the elephants. “If an elephant shows even a slight behavioural variation or change, it will be kept out of the display area,” he added.

Kushalnagar Range Forest Officer Rakshith said cameras and barricades have been installed as part of the SOP. “The barricades have been placed at a distance of 10 metres. We have reopened the Harangi camp. The Dubare camp is yet to be reopened and will be opened soon after the SOP implementation is completed,” he said.