Rajeev TS
Profile of elephant keepers and owners of Thrissur and Palakkad Districts - Mannuthy Department of Extension, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences 2001
The present study was on the profile of elephant keepers and owners of
Thrissur and Palakkad districts of Kerala. In all 50 elephant owners and 50 each
of first and second mahouts were studied. The socio-economic profile of the
elephant owners as well as the mahouts indicated that these categories were
representing distinct socio-economic strata of society. While the owners were
socio-economically better of the mahouts were not so and were illiterates.
Majority of elephant owners as well as the mahouts had only either
medium or low knowledge of elephant management. When owners' had more
knowledge of disease management in comparison to other management domains,
the mahouts had more knowledge of ha mess practices. For both owners as well as
mahouts the knowledge of general management which included scientific feeding
practices, among other practices, was one low. Further majority of the first
mahouts were either medium or low adopters of scientific management practices.
Age and experience, in general, were found to be important in the acquisition of
knowledge as well as adoption of scientific practices. Further, knowledge of
scientific management and its adoption were correlated. Information on some of
the least known practices to the owners and mahouts revealed the chances of
meting out hardship to the elephants unknowingly. Among the owners, first and
second mahouts, training need of second mahouts was relatively more than that
of first mahouts and their training need was more than that of owners. Only
through a proper knowledge of the scientific practices and practicing of the same
that the welfare of the captive elephants can be assured. Therefore, intensive
efforts are required to formally train the elephant owners and mahouts.
Appropriate training programmes can motivate the owners and mahouts to look
after their elephants better thereby assuring their welfare.
636.007 / RAJ/PR
Profile of elephant keepers and owners of Thrissur and Palakkad Districts - Mannuthy Department of Extension, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences 2001
The present study was on the profile of elephant keepers and owners of
Thrissur and Palakkad districts of Kerala. In all 50 elephant owners and 50 each
of first and second mahouts were studied. The socio-economic profile of the
elephant owners as well as the mahouts indicated that these categories were
representing distinct socio-economic strata of society. While the owners were
socio-economically better of the mahouts were not so and were illiterates.
Majority of elephant owners as well as the mahouts had only either
medium or low knowledge of elephant management. When owners' had more
knowledge of disease management in comparison to other management domains,
the mahouts had more knowledge of ha mess practices. For both owners as well as
mahouts the knowledge of general management which included scientific feeding
practices, among other practices, was one low. Further majority of the first
mahouts were either medium or low adopters of scientific management practices.
Age and experience, in general, were found to be important in the acquisition of
knowledge as well as adoption of scientific practices. Further, knowledge of
scientific management and its adoption were correlated. Information on some of
the least known practices to the owners and mahouts revealed the chances of
meting out hardship to the elephants unknowingly. Among the owners, first and
second mahouts, training need of second mahouts was relatively more than that
of first mahouts and their training need was more than that of owners. Only
through a proper knowledge of the scientific practices and practicing of the same
that the welfare of the captive elephants can be assured. Therefore, intensive
efforts are required to formally train the elephant owners and mahouts.
Appropriate training programmes can motivate the owners and mahouts to look
after their elephants better thereby assuring their welfare.
636.007 / RAJ/PR