Captive elephants Muthu and Cauvery at Chadivayal elephant camp in Coimbatore district. File
| Photo Credit: The Hindu
The Tamil Nadu Forest Department is exploring the possibilities of permitting visitors to its elephant camp at Chadivayal in Coimbatore district.
The plan is to allow visitors to witness feeding of elephants as permitted in Theppakadu elephant camp in the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve and Kozhikamuthi elephant camp in the Anamalai Tiger Reserve. This will also be a platform to create awareness among visitors on the importance of elephant conservation.
Nestled within the limits of the Boluvampatti forest range, Chadivayal camp is currently housing four captive elephants of the Forest Department, namely Muthu, Cauvery, John and Sumangala.
The camp, located at the tail end of Siruvani Road, has the potential to attract visitors due to its proximity to Kovai Courtallam waterfall, which attracts 200 to 400 people during weekdays and 1,500 to 2,000 visitors on weekends. Tickets to people visiting the waterfall are issued at the Forest Department checkpost at Chadivayal.
The Department’s plan is to allow these visitors to witness feeding of camp elephants by charging a nominal entry fee, revenue from which can be used for the upkeep of the facility.
D. Venkatesh, Chief Conservator of Forests and Field Director of the Anamalai Tiger Reserve, said the plan is the nascent stage and opinion of Forest Department veterinarians have been sought on the matter.
According to him, visitors to Kovai Courtallam are allowed from 10 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. However, the feeding timings of the camp elephants are 8.30 a.m. and 5.30 p.m. Since the waterfall is located within the reserve forest area, visitors are not allowed to stay after 4.30 p.m.
He added that a proposal will be sent to the higher-ups after deciding on a suitable time for visitors and other factors, without interrupting the routine of the elephant camp.
Published – July 15, 2026 08:01 pm IST
