Lunch Time at Kodanad Elephant Training Centre

Jaggery, rice, and palm leaves- no delicacy is unavailable for elephants in Kodanad elephant domestication centre.

Located in Ernakulam district, on the shores of river Periyar, Kodanad is the headquarters of Malayattoor forest division. This village is famous for its elephant kraal and a mini zoo.

Baby elephants from nearby forests, either washed away in rains or abandoned by herds, are brought here and groomed.

They are housed in Kraals, traditional wooden cages. Trained mahouts groom the elephants and the training is quite scientific and systematic.

Nowadays, at least 5-8 baby elephants are received here annually.

In olden days, elephants where captured from the Malayattoor forests to be trained for domestication. But it is no longer a practice since the government has banned the capturing if elephants.

The centre also houses grown-up elephants. Elephant safari is another attraction here.

The centre attracts large number of travelers and wild life enthusiasts from around the world.

Muthanga in Wayanad district and Konni in Pathanamthitta district are two other places in the state where similar training centres are located.