Monday, December 11, 2017

Periyar Elephant Camp


With no elephants in the nature reserve, we stopped off at the elephant camp for a ride. The mahouts were kind and the elephants enjoyed the banana treats. We found it rather difficult but an enjoyable experience.


                                           Gail and Rob on Larda. She was very beautiful.





At the end of the ride we gave Larda some treats and the four of us posed for photos.


Larda brought her trunk down to rest on our heads. Gail purchased extra elephant pants for the occasion.


We tried to put on a video but it is too large.

In the afternoon we went for a walk in the Nature Reserve. We had a guide who said that he had not seen a tiger in 5 years. There are only about 40 and the National Park covers about 1000 sq. Kilometres. A pleasant walk with trees, orchids, birds and animals.


The male Bee Catcher.


The beautiful Teak Forest. They don't need guards for the elephants but they do have armed guards at night to protect the Sandalwood Trees.


Gail and Rob with a forest giant with character. We are both wearing our anti leech socks.


Samba deer.


Water buffalo. We did see one at the lake along with wild boar.


        

5 comments:

Miss Di said...

I do rather like those red pants mum.

But. Something I don't know enough about to have an opinion about either way. There is a lot of press that says you shouldn't do elephant rides (I'm guessing that's what you said was challenging). But I remember the zoo keeper at Taronga years ago saying the ellies really missed the human interaction.

xo, D

gailandrob said...

We loved Larda.
Much easier to look after than kids!
Also have photo of 3 in elephant pants
Dad

amanda said...

I loved the elephant photos- I'd like to take a ride one day on an elephant
- Harrison

gailandrob said...

Thanks Harrison,
We will show you some video when we get back
Grandma and Grandad

David said...

i agree with harrison