A file picture of tourists in an elephant management programme at the forest camp in Dhupjhora

Siliguri, Nov. 7: For Surya, Shilabati, Meghlal, Diana and Teesta, there were no patrols or tourist rides today, not even scouring the forest for food.

Instead, it was a day of idling away, basking in the sun and gambolling in the water as mahouts gave them pedicure or placed bunches of apples and bananas in front of them.

With the state Wildlife Week celebrations going on across the state, the forest department had declared a holiday for its “four-footed employees” who work round the year. All 13 elephants of Gorumara National Park were rested from work today.

“None of them had to go out into the jungle on patrolling, or take tourists for rides. They enjoyed the day thoroughly, had bath and a scrumptious lunch. Most of them, after having food, rested under the shade of trees while the calves strolled around,” said Tapas Das, the divisional forest officer (wildlife-II).

“Usually each elephant consumes around 100kg of fodder — sabai grass with rice and dal and leaves and branches — everyday. Today, the mahouts brought them their food. It was nice to see all of them, scrubbed clean and shining,” he added.

There are a number of elephant camps in Dhupjhora, Medla, Murti, Garati and Tondu, all located within the park or on its fringes. Mahouts at the camps took them to nearby streams and rivers this morning. “They were bathed and their nails were cleaned. They rested while we did the patrolling in vehicles and on foot,” Das said.

All elephants were then taken to Dhupjhora, 70km from here. Apples, bananas and other fruits, along with the regular diet of sabai, were served. While the old ones gulped silently, calves like five-year-old Teesta and three-year-old Diana were reluctant to savour the food, goodies though they may be, preferring instead to stroll around in the camp as the iron fetters that bound them had been taken off.

“There were some tourists at the camp, who participated in the exercise to serve food to this special lot of forest staff,” the DFO said.

The feeding is part of the elephant management programme that tourists can participate in.

“We have cottages at Dhupjhora where visitors stay. Elephant management under the guidance of mahouts is part of the tour package,” the forest office said.