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Indian elephants unwind at camp
EFL
Working elephants in India’s southern Tamil Nadu state have begun a month of relaxation at a holiday camp. The government-sponsored camp in the Mudumalai sanctuary is aimed at rejuvenating more than 80 elephants belonging to various temples and individual owners.
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Tamil Nadu is the second southern state to introduce annual holidays for working elephants. The decision to provide rest for the elephants was announced by chief minister J Jayalalitha. It was prompted by the recommendations of a government team that studied the upkeep of elephants in Kerala, which employs hundreds of elephants for temple festivals. Concern for the animals has been in focus following increasing attacks by these elephants on humans. At least four people have been killed in such attacks in Kerala in recent months.
The article then describes the elephant rest camp (they get cooked rice) and then...
There is also a unit of five commando elephants to tackle rogues.
Just when you think the world can’t get stranger...

Elephants have a habit of occasionally going nutty. It's called pesth. Doesn't seem to be tied with the mating process or anything — they just wake up on the wrong side of the bed one morning and trample somebody. They feel real sorry about it later.

Posted by: Patrick Phillips 2003-11-18
http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=21396