City Reports

Jaipur: Elephant safari timing at Amer changed

October 10, 2019, 9:53 am

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elephant stand amber fort

Image credit: Post Staff

Jaipur: The Rajasthan forest department has asked the archaeology department to change the timing of elephant safari at elephant village and Amer Fort, amid complaints that the elephants were being used for taking tourists on a tour throughout the day. The new timing will be from 8 am to 12 pm. There will be no elephant safari thereafter.

The officials said that currently the elephants are being used for safaris throughout the day at Amber Fort as well as the Elephant Village.

“The animals have no time for rest, so they become aggressive. We have seen some instances of tourists getting hurt during elephant safaris. These incidents are few and far between, but they are definitely avoidable,” said a forest department officer.

He added that the elephant safari will not be allowed between 12 pm and 3 pm at Amber Fort and Elephant Village.

When tourists and tour agencies can’t get an elephant safari at Amer Palace, they go to the Elephant Village and pay mahouts for a safari on the village premises.

“This practise should be discouraged. We have written to the archaeology department to check in on this practise on Amer Fort premises as it exhausts the elephants. We will make sure that the new timing is enforced strictly at Elephant Village,” said the officer.

First published: October 10, 2019