The Satpura Tiger Reserve adopts Krishna, Gaja, Pooja and Marisha. The elephants Krishna, Gaja, Puja and Marisha were adopted by the Satpura Tiger Reserve after leaving their home state of Karnataka. The elephants Krishna, Gaja, Pooja and Marisha entered the Satpura Tiger Reserve from their habitat in Bandipur Tiger Reserve, Karnataka on Friday.
In this group of four elephants there are two male and two female elephants. The names of male elephants are Krishna, Gaja and the names of female elephants are Pooja and Marisha.
Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) J.S. Chauhan said that keeping in view the need of elephants in wildlife management in the tiger reserves located in the state, the plan to bring elephants was made about a year ago.
The committee formed under the Director Satpura Tiger Reserve inspected various elephant camps in Karnataka and selected 14 elephants. To bring these elephants to Madhya Pradesh, necessary approval was taken from the Government of India, the Governments of Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh.
A team left on 23 November 2022 to bring these elephants. The team selected places for halting elephants on the routes and made other arrangements and made systematic preparations with the local forest officials. There were about 22 members in the transport team including field director Satpura Tiger Reserve, assistant director, Satpura and Panna Tiger Reserves and transported to a distance of about 1600 kms.
The wildlife doctor and other supporting staff also accompanied the transport team. After Karnataka, this team has reached Satpura Tiger Reserve via Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Maharashtra. Here the team was given special cooperation and security by the Forest Department and the Police Force. Mahavats from Karnataka have come with them, who will stay in Satpura for a few days and acquaint the Mahavats of Satpura with their behavior.
These elephants will be fully trained by the Mahavat of Satpura. Later they will be used in wildlife conservation. All the elephants are safe and are now on rest. It is being considered to bring the remaining 10 elephants in two phases in this month.