Elephant rehab and research center in haryana

July 9 - An Elephant Rehabilitation and Research Centre atBan Santour, Distt. Yamunanagar (Haryana) would be established over anarea of 50 acres.This was disclosed by Mrs. Kiran Choudhry, Minister of State forForest, Environment, Tourism, Sports and Youth Affairs today. She saidthat another 400 acres land would be kept reserved for movement andexercise of elephants. Initially the center would be run as anelephant camp after obtaining the required permissions from theHon'ble Supreme Court and Central Zoo Authority (CZA). Later, itwould be run as a fullfledged rehabilitation, rescue and researchcenter and would be opened to public. Domestic elephants which areillegally kept would be sent to this center, she added.Mrs Choudhry said that initially a sum of Rs. 90 lakh would beprovided by the Government of India for setting up of this Centre.TheCentre which was first of its kind in the country would not be like azoo but it would serve as natural habitate to the elephants. Mahawatswould be engaged to protect and train the elephants. The recurringexpenditure would also be borne out by the Government of India, sheadded.She said, "Ban Santor is a Protected forest area in Yamunagardistrict very close to Sal forest of Kalesar and Kalesar WildlifeSanctuary. This area is undulating and is a natural home ofelephants. Elephants come to this area from nearby Uttrakhand State ona regular basis."Mrs.Choudhry said that due to the excessive pressure ofdevelopment, forests were under great pressure and natural habitats ofwild animals were shrinking. Fauna and Flora would have to bepreserved at all costs. The elephant Rehabilitation and ResearchCentre would go a long way in generating awareness among people aboutthe real threat to wildlife and also rehabilitate illegally keptdomestic elephants, she added.An agreement to this effect had been signed between Government ofHaryana and Wildlife SOS (Non Government Organization). Mr. R.D.Jakati, APCCF-cum- Chief Wildlife Warden, Haryana signed the agreementon behalf of Govt. of Haryana and Mr. Kartick Sataynarayan on behalfof Wildlife SOS in the presence of the Mrs. Kiran Choudhry. Mr. M.B.Lal, Director, Wildlife and Mr. Anmol Kumar, DIG (wildlife), Govt. ofIndia, PCCF, Haryana Dr. J.K. Rawat, and other senior officers ofHaryana Forest Department were also present on this occasion.