Umaria (MP), Sep 23 (PTI) Fifteen elephants that are deployed for various tasks in Madhya Pradesh's Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve got some respite, as the week-long Hathi Mahotsav began here, an official said on Wednesday.

The rejuvenation camp for elephants began on Monday, giving them a break from their routine work, the reserve's field director Vincent Rahim said.

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"These elephants help us with patrolling, tracking and other routine works all the year round. Now, we will serve them throughout the week during Hathi Mahotsav," the official said.

The elephants are being given their favourite food and massages during the rejuvenation week, he said, adding that public participation has been limited this year in view of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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A new scheme to adopt elephants is also being launched, the official said.

"We are launching a scheme under which any person can adopt an elephant for a day or a month. Interested individuals will have to incur fixed expenses of medicines and food of a pachyderm for that duration," he said.

The BTR will provide a digital certificate to persons participating in the scheme, he added.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)