The Kottoor Elephant Rehabilitation Centre, also known as the Kottoor Elephant Camp, is an elephant rescue and rehabilitation facility located in Kottoor, Kerala, India. It is managed by the Kerala Forest Development Corporation (KFDC) and is situated within the Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve, a protected area in the Western Ghats.
The proposed centre have the facilities to accommodate 50 elephants including the existing 16 elephants. It can also accommodate 80 mahouts. Presently 441 reservoirs and other check dams have been constructed to provide easy access to water in the forest for wild animals.In 2020, as a part of upgradation of the centre into the world’s largest elephant care centre, the government allocated 72 crores for the construction of new facilities.
As a part of it, fifty habitats surrounded by steel pillars and steel nets that allow elephants to live in their natural habitat, an elephant museum, a veterinary hospital with super specialty facilities, a research center for nature lovers and students, training center for mahouts, facilities for visitors, entrance plaza, administrative office, cottages, spacious convention center, amphitheater, various reservoirs, training facilities for baby elephants, a kitchen for cooking elephant foods, a feeding area, a post mortem facility for cremation including tamed elephants, a paper making unit from elephant dung and quarters and dormitories for mahouts to stay with their families will be constructed. The construction of these facilities will be completed in various phases and the first phase was inaugurated in February 2021.
At present,15 elephants are there at the centre, including the oldest elephant in India, Soman and the youngest baby elephant Raju, who is only around one year old. One of the major attraction at Kottur is the elephant parade. It is held on every weekends in which all elephants take part. In the parade, all the elephants move in a line, with each of the elephants holding the tail of the other one in front of them with their trunk.
If you are the kind of person who loves elephants and wants to see them in a wild haven designed for them, come to Kappukad in Kottur, where there is an elephant rehab centre.
Sit on its banks, savour the beauty of the river where the big animals are scrubbed clean every morning by the mahouts. Then you wonder what the foliage on the other side of the bank could be hiding.
Rescue and Rehabilitation: The center primarily focuses on rescuing and rehabilitating captive elephants that have been subjected to abuse, neglect, or are no longer able to work. It provides a safe and natural environment for these elephants to live out the rest of their lives.
Habitat: The facility offers a semi-natural habitat for the elephants, with a significant portion of forested land. This allows the rescued elephants to roam, graze, and interact with other elephants in a more natural setting.
Visitor Education: The Kottoor Elephant Rehabilitation Centre also serves as an educational center for visitors. It aims to raise awareness about the conservation of elephants and their role in the ecosystem. Visitors can learn about the elephants’ behavior, biology, and the challenges they face.
Guided Tours: Guided tours are often available for visitors, providing them with an opportunity to observe the elephants at a safe distance. These tours may also include information about the history and care of the elephants at the center.
Conservation: The center is involved in various conservation efforts related to elephants and their habitats. This includes monitoring the health and well-being of the elephants and conducting research.
Ecotourism: Kottoor Elephant Rehabilitation Centre is part of Kerala’s ecotourism initiatives. It allows tourists to enjoy a natural and wildlife-focused experience while promoting responsible tourism.
