Chennai: Madras High Court was yesterday informed that temple elephants and forest camp pachyderms will be kept in separate places during the proposed rejuvenation camp to be held at Mettupalayam from December 19 to February 4.
In a counter-affidavit on a petition seeking to restrain the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Department from conducting the 48-day camp where it is proposed to send even captive jumbos, the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests of Tamil Nadu submitted that there was no possibility of temple elephants mingling with camp elephants.
It was also submitted before a Division Bench, comprising Chief Justice R K Agrawal and Justice K Ravichandra Babu,that only elephants which are free from diseases are taken for the rejuvenation camp.
The counter further said the health of elephants has been assessed and all precautions had been taken before conducting the camp.
The petition had submitted that there was a vast difference, both behavioural and rearing methods between the elephants in temples and mutts and those in camps in forest.
