The elephant centre at Kottoor is located more than 25 km away from the capital city, which will soon undergo up-gradation as per the international standards. The project initiated will be a part of the state government’s exclusive program for the conservation and protection of elephants.
It is reported that the first stage of the Elephant Rehabilitation Centre will be delegated in February 2021. The project is funded by the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB) which will cost INR 108 crore.
Spread across 176 hectares of forest land, the rehabilitation centre is well equipped to accommodate 50 elephants, including the existing 16 elephants. After up-gradation, around 50 elephant habitats can fit in the centre. It is also going to have special enclosed by nets and steel poles to house the elephants in their natural habitat.
Reservoirs and dams will be constructed and will be checked at the Neyyar Dam, which is an element of the project. The centre is said to have a special establishment for taking care of elephant calves and protecting them.
The primary purpose of this rehabilitation centre is to provide elephants with a natural ecosystem just like that is found in a forest.
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The upgraded centre is said to have a veterinary hospital equipped with special facilities to treat elephants. The centre will also have an elephant museum, a training centre for mahouts, a research and study centre for students and nature lovers, an administrative office, an entrance plaza, cottages, a cafeteria, and a special elephant viewing facility.
It is presumed that this project will boost employment opportunity for the locals and likewise grow into a significant tourist site in the coming future.