Jumbos enjoy grooming sessions in Jalpaiguri

Jalpaiguri, Sep 5 (ANI): Visit the Dhupjhora Elephant Camp of Gorumara National Park in Jalpaiguri in West Bengal, and one might come face to face with an elephant getting its nails done! The forest department organises a camp for cleaning and decorating the jumbos each year.

The elephants' are thoroughly scrubbed, nails cut, their teeth brushed, and elaborate chalk designs made on them. Their bodies are even anointed with mustard oil for 'that extra glow'.

Every day in the morning these elephants are taken to the forest for a safari from the Dhupjhora camp. They are brought back late in the afternoon and then taken to the nearby Murti River for routine cleaning.

The mahouts said that the elephants need to be kept well groomed. Hence they are given these beauty parlour like treatment.

"We feed them well, bathe them. Like in a beauty parlour. Their bodies are scrubbed, nails cut and teeth cleaned,' said Arun Mandal, a mahout.

The whole process is quite a sight. The tourists are especially amazed seeing the jumbos lying calmly in the river.

"I was very delighted to se how the elephants are bathed in the river. They are then brought out and well fed. They are oiled and decorated and given special care. It was really very nice to see all this,' said Paresh Choudhary, a tourist. (ANI)