World Elephant Day was celebrated on 12th August to create awareness and to conserve these endangered species.
On this occasion, Elephant Rita was adopted by Amit Narang from Dubai through online mode.
The celebrations commenced with citizens and wildlife enthusiasts providing their services to the zoo in the form of fodder harvesting through Mrugalayakke Shramadhana ಮೃಗಾಲಯಕ್ಕೆ ಶ್ರಮದಾನ: Donation of Services at Zoo. The harvested fodder was fed to the elephants by the mahouts.
Further, the elephants received enrichment of various fruits and vegetables along with browse which were provided in a way which encourages their browsing behavior. Treats were also placed in a pipe, where the elephants had to retrieve it using their trunk.
55 students from SOS Children's village took part in the awareness creation session along with visitors to learn about these gentle giants, their management at BBP, threats they face in the wild and need to conserve these endangered species. Post learning about elephants, visitors took the wildlife pledge and a Elephant Friendship Band, which was made by elephant mahouts families, were tied to the visitors by them.
Senior Jenu Kuruba mahout, Motanna, provided the mahouts, kavadis and their children with a elephant necklet, which was also created by the family of the mahouts, as a promise to take care of the elephants as well as to pass on the skills to their children.
