Chandaka Wildlife Sanctuary at Dampara in Bhubaneswar. Picture by Ashwinee Pati

Bhubaneswar, Oct. 6: Tourists visiting the Chandaka Wildlife Sanctuary can enjoy an elephant ride in the reserve forest from next month.

Mahouts (elephant trainer) are training two kunkis — jumbos that control rogue elephants — for the service.

A forest official said visitors, especially students, would be given priority for elephant ride to create awareness regarding jumbos, which is a major attraction of the sanctuary.

“Before starting the ride, we will have to ensure that the designated path, on which the ride will be introduced, is free from obstruction. Besides, we will have to ensure that no human interference takes place during the ride,” said Chandaka divisional forest officer Manoj Mohapatra.

Sources in the state forest department said this would be first case of elephant ride under eco-tourism project in the sanctuary. Other states to have introduced such rides in sanctuaries are Assam, Kerala and Karnataka.

Though the Nandankanan zoo used to offer elephant rides to its visitors, it got discontinued in 2005.

The ride was closed according to the guideline of the Central Zoo Authority, which debars zoos from keeping elephants in captive condition.

In the Chandaka sanctuary, elephant ride would be introduced for one-and-a-half hours each in the morning and evening.

The forest officials have proposed to charge Rs 300 per ride with six persons riding an elephant.

In a related development, the forest department turned down a proposal to introduce bicycle ride in the sanctuary, keeping an eye on tourists’ safety.

However, the authorities are planning to procure four battery-operated tricycles to help physically challenged tourists go around the sanctuary.

An official said the tricycles would carry tourists from the main gate to various places inside the sanctuary.

The sanctuary, spread over an area of 193km, has a number of tourist’s attractions, including Deras, Jhumka, Godibari and Kumarkhunti. Known as an elephant habitat, it has 32 small hillocks.

The last elephant census conducted in 2012 had shown that there were 24 elephants in Chandaka. The sanctuary is also famous for its wild berries.