Jumbos in Kerala go hi-tech

Kochi, Mar 8 (UNI) Jumbos in Kerala are going hi-tech with the state forest department implanting microchips on captive elephants to act as electronic identity cards.

The initiative is being implemented by the forest department in association with Elephant Care, a non-governmental organisation, under the Centre's 'Project Elephant'.

The scheme was launched in Ernakulam district yesterday and more than 10 elephants were implanted with the microchips at Maradu, Puthencruz, Willingdon Island and Cherai areas in the district.

According to Mr E K Eswaran, Chief Veterinary Surgeon with the forest department, the scheme had been started to ensure proper upkeep of the elephants by their owners.

All personal data of the elephant is being recorded on the microchip and the same is being implanted behind the left ear of the elephant. Whenever needed, these details can be decoded electronically.

''This is something like a registration number of a vehicle, which will help us to keep a track of the elephants. The specific code number of each elephant and its special features, recorded in the microchip, would be maintained in our registers also, giving us a ready reference for them,'' he added.

Stating that the forest department was implanting the microchips free of charge, he said that in future, the code number would be made compulsory for all captive elephants in the state.

UNI