Trainers at a camp for recovering elephants in south India were filmed doing their daily bath session for the giant beasts in a nearby river.

The elephant trainers from the Sakrebailu Elephant Camp, filmed here on December 4, can be seen leading their mounts down to the river Tunga and laying them down to be scrubbed and washed in the waters.

The Sakrebailu Elephant Camp is a forest camp for captive elephants that require rest or training in Karnataka, and is maintained by the state Forest Department.

The camp offers visitors the opportunity to watch the daily bathing sessions, which can last for 2 to 3 hours at a time, as the mucky elephants have their hides and tusks cleaned.

Sakrebailu Elephant Camp is a forest camp for captive elephants in Karnataka. Situated at a distance of 14 km from Shimoga on the Shimoga-Thirthahalli Road, it is considered to be the best camp for training elephants in the state. The camp is maintained by the Karnataka Forest Department. The Sakrebailu Elephant Camp attracts wildlife enthusiasts and tourists alike. It is one of those ecotourism centres in Karnataka that offers visitors an opportunity to look at the tuskers from close quarters.

The camp houses elephants from all over Karnataka that need proper attention and training. The elephants may require training or attention due to a number of reasons like illness, behavioural issues, deficiency in nutrition, etc. Elephants that are uncontrollable are also brought in for training at this camp. The camp has experienced personnel who train and take care of the animals. Generally elephants of all ages are trained in the camp. The camp is situated in the vicinity of River Tunga. The main attraction of the camp is the interaction session allowed between the visitors and the elephants. Unlike other elephant camps of the state, this camp allows visitors to interact with the tuskers from a close distance.
Such a session can last for up to 2 to 3 hours. Visitors have to reach the camp early in the morning to be able to watch the elephants being bathed in the water of the Tunga River by the mahouts. They can also watch the big animals enjoying their frolic and then proceeding towards their feeding area. The place holds special attraction for kids as they
get to see these majestic creatures playing in the water.

Filmed & DOP BY : DURGESH KUMAR YELLAPPA
Megha India Photo Agency (Mipanews.com)
Mumbai, Maharashtra, India