Elephant rehabilitation centre: home for retired elephants

The elephant rehabilitation centre of Kappukadu, the retirement home of Renji and other three elephants is located at the Agasthyavanam biological park of Kottur. Renji is the first and senior most member of the retirement home. He has retired from the Kerala forest department 11 years back and now enjoying old days in his happy retirement home at Kappukadu.

The elephants are the most noted in Kottur because of the suitable environment and climate. This compelled the authorities to open the rehabilitation home there with 10 acres of land area surrounded by forest, which was inaugurated last year. A team of veterinary experts will look after the sick or aged elephants at the home. Healthy ones are used for safaris to entertain the visitors of the park. The ‘elephant safari’ is possible from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The safari is of twenty minutes duration and costs less. This rehabilitation home for elephants is the point of attraction nowadays, in this awesome biosphere reserve of the state capital.

The Agasthyamala biosphere reserve is a part of the Agasthyakoodam hill range of the Western Ghats. This is in the Kottur forest area and a view from the forest watch tower here will reveal the astonishing beauty of the hill peaks like Kathirumudi, Agasthyakoodam, Pandipathu Thottumpara, and Ponmudi.

There are tribal set ups to watch the animals like the Nilgiri Langur, Giant Squirrel, Wild Boar and wild varieties of butterflies. An adventurous trekking is also possible in Agasthyakoodam hills. The Ponmudi hill resorts offer a pleasant stay for travelers which is the nearest.

There are too many reasons to visit Agasthyakoodam if you really fond of nature. The most peculiar are the elephants. And an elephant-ride is absolutely a fantastic experience. The forest cover is around 61 kilometers away from the Thiruvananthapuram central railway station and around 69 km from the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport.

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