Protected Area Network in Orissa - Vasundhara

21 Sunabeda Wl 0 0 0 022 Bamra 45 123 33 20123 Bonai 15 40 27 8224 Badrama Wl 0 0 0 025 Deogarh 2 7 0 926 Rairakhole 25 93 47 16527 Sundargarh 0 0 0 028 Sambalpur 20 22 22 6429 Chandaka Wl 13 30 19 6230 Similipal 97 283 132 512(Figures of Karanjia and BaripDivision included)State Total 370 940 531 1841Captive elephantsThe History of Orissa provides evidences about a rich tradition of maintainingelephants in captivity. There are innumerable elephant sculptures in temples andcaves, and the Maharaja of Puri is known as the "Gajapati". Maintaining captiveelephants was not possible in princely states after Indian-independence andparticularly after the introduction of 'privy purse' where the princely states handedover most of their properties to the Government and maintaining personal collectionof elephants was no longer necessary.The changed scenario reflected on the families of 'Mahouts' who mastered the skill ofelephant-maintenance. The mahouts have gradually vanished along with thedisappearance of the tradition of keeping elephants.Captive elephants are now maintained only in some of the 'camps' under StateWildlife Organisation. In Nandankanan the elephants are used for joy rides byvisitors. In Similipal, however, the elephants are used by staff moving for habitat or126