Chennai: As many as 13 mahouts (elephant trainers) and cavadies (assistants) from Tamil Nadu successfully completed a training camp at Thai Elephant Conservation Centre, Lampang, on taking better care of captive elephants, the Forest Department said on Monday.

These elephant trainers and assistants from the Anamalai and Mudumalai elephant camps, respectively, were sent to Thailand in November 2022 for undergoing training, capacity building and learning about the best practices on better management and maintenance of camp elephants at the Thai Elephant Conservation Centre.

"It was great to interact with the mahouts and cavadies as they just returned from their highly successful first-ever training at the Thailand Elephant Conservation Centre. Way to go #TNForest," Tamil Nadu Additional Chief Secretary, Environment Climate Change & Forests, Supriya Sahu said in a tweet.

Updating their training programme, she said that the training involved exchanging knowledge on care for old elephants, preparing food, importance of nutrition, evaluation of health parameters with veterinary doctors, etc. These 13 men were felicitated at a function held at the Arignar Anna Zoological Park, Vandalur, here on Monday, upon their arrival.

"Scientific management of captive elephants is an extremely important intervention for elephant conservation. Tamil Nadu is a pioneer State in rehabilitation and maintenance of captive elephants. Mahouts and cavadies are the backbone of captive elephant care," a release from the Forest Department said.

Considering the better conservation of elephants, it is essential that mahouts and cavadies of Tamil Nadu Forest Department were exposed to the best practices available around the world which can be adopted for the better maintenance of captive elephants being maintained at forest department camps, the release further said. Thai Elephant Conservation Centre is a reputed elephant camp known for its scientific approach to manage elephants. It acts as a centre for research and is at the forefront in treating sick elephants in Thailand and also offers mahout training and homestay.