Kottur Elephant Sanctuary and Rehabilitation Centre
World's largest elephant rehabilation centre / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Kottur Elephant Sanctuary and Rehabilitation Centre located near Kappukadu in Thiruvananthapuram district of Kerala is an elephant sanctuary and rehabilitation centre.[1] Started in 2006 as an elephant sanctuary, the Kerala government announced a project in 2019 to expand it as an elephant rehabilitation centre with international standards.[2] When completed, it will become the largest rehabilitation centre for the elephants in the world.[3][4] It is also the first rehabilitation centre for elephants in India, constructed at an estimated cost of ₹105 crores.[5] The centre is spread across 176 hectares of forest and currently have 16 elephants, with a capacity to accommodate 50 elephants in future after completion.[6]
Kottur Elephant Sanctuary and Rehabilitation Centre | |
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Location | Thiruvananthapuram Kerala, India |
Nearest city | Thiruvananthapuram |
Coordinates | 8°24′N 77°10′E |
Area | 176 hectares |
Established | 2006 (currently in upgradation) |
Visitors | 3,50,000 per year (in future after completion) |
Governing body | Kerala Forest Department |
The first phase of the project was inaugurated in February 2021 by the Chief minister of Kerala, Pinarai Vijayan. After the full completion, it is expected that Kottur will become a major tourist destination in the district with more than 3.5 lakh people, including half a lakh tourists from overseas expected to visit it every year.[7]