BATHING OF ELEPHANTS

The forests of Kerala are the natural habitats of the Asian elephant. ( Maximus indus). Elephants are of two types - the Asian and the African. Interestingly the pachyderm is not found in Australia. Some 300 species of mammals, the forerunners of the elephant are believed to have become extinct in the course of evolution
ELEPHANT BATHING VIDEO

NAMES & IMAGES OF MORE ELEPHANTS

Punnathoorkotta, the elephant camp of the Guruvayoor temple, has the maximum number of domesticated elephants in the State. Offering elephants to the deity was also a common practice. Today as part of the conservation programme elephant capturing is banned in the state.
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ELEPHANTS OF KERALAM

Since time immemorial, elephants have been an integral part of the daily life in Kerala - a southern tropical state in India. These huge mammals have been loved, revered, groomed and given a prestigious place in the state's culturescape.

Elephants have been an integral part of cultural Kerala from time immemorial. These huge mammals have always been loved, revered, groomed and given a prestigious place in the state's culturescape.

Most joint families in the past owned elephants and their increasing number was considered a symbol of the family's status. But today only a handful of families own an elephant. The rest have entrusted these treasured possessions to the Devaswoms or temple managements owing to the degeneration of the joint family system and the rising cost of maintaining elephants.

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