Mahouts and patawalas (mahouts’ assistants who arrange fodder for pet elephants) at Jaldapara central pilkhana in Alipurduar district are being trained to strengthen the bonds between handlers and elephants.

The five-day training programme, which started on Sunday, is being conducted by elephant expert and Padma Shri Parbati Barua.

Sources said that the training is being imparted at Jaldapara after a gap of five years.

“In recent years, two mahouts died while five have been injured by the elephants,” said a source.

There are 85 captive elephants at Jaldapara National Park, making it a park with the highest number of elephants in the country.

Barua said: “It is important to know the mood of the elephant otherwise it is tough to assume the danger. It is really difficult to keep the elephants disciplined. Another important job is to identify whether the elephant is in normal health or ill.”

Sources said that the training programme would cover various aspects of captive elephant management including their treatment and welfare.

Captive elephants play key role in the patrolling of forests and other allied activities.

Parveen Kaswan, the DFO of the Jaldapara wildlife division, said: “Twenty-four elephant handlers will directly benefit from this training. We plan to conduct such trainings regularly so that all the mahouts and patawalas get a sound knowledge on elephant management, including their treatment.”

Apart from Barua, the inauguration on Sunday was attended by Bhashkar J.V., the CCF wildlife (north) and Parveen Kaswan, the DFO of Jaldapara wildlife division, among others.

Given past incidents of conflict, there was a feeling among a section in the forest department that a kind of distance might be developing between the elephants and their handlers.

“This training will go a long way in dispelling such misgivings,” said a source.