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Rajasthan lifts ban on elephant rides to Amber Fort
Indo-Asian News Service

Jaipur, Oct 11 (IANS) Tourists can once again enjoy elephant rides at the Amber Fort in this Rajasthan capital with the government lifting a ban that was imposed after a rogue elephant killed one person and injured two tourists.

The decision to lift the ban was taken at a meeting of senior officials here Monday. It was decided that 61 elephants, who were found to be in sound mental and physical health, would be allowed to ferry tourists to the fort.

According to sources, the decision was taken after a committee of elephant owners agreed to follow safety norms issued by the state government. 

The tourism department had imposed an indefinite ban on elephant rides after a rogue elephant trampled to death a tour escort and injured two Belgian tourists Sep 15. 

The Amber Fort is one of the favourite tourist spots in the city. Some tourists, especially foreigners, prefer taking an elephant ride to the fort perched high on a barren ridge. 

Built in 1592 by Raja Man Singh, the fort is one of the finest examples of Rajput architecture. The building was two centuries in the making and was completed in the early 18th century.

The state government had constituted a team Sep 17 to study the physical and mental behaviour of elephants used to ferry tourists in Amber fort. 

In the almost month-long exercise, the team reported 61 elephants out of 90 that were examined to be in sound physical and mental health. Sources said the team will examine the remaining 26 elephants from Oct 13. 

Meanwhile, in a bid to avoid further casualties, the state government has issued a set of norms to be followed by mahouts and elephant owners. 

Under the new guidelines, the forest department will issue identity cards to all mahouts who must have at least three years experience of handling elephants in the Amber premises. 

One elephant will not be allowed to take more than three rides per day.

The government has also assured the mahouts that they will get proper compensation for their work. Elephant owners have been asked to employ two mahouts on an elephant.