Basavaraj at 03:41, 23 February 2026

2026-02-23T03:41:38Z

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{{short description|Eco tourism project in Kerala}}
{{Infobox protected area
| name = Abhayaranyam Animal Shelter and Kodanad Elephant Training Centre
| iucn_category =
| map = Kerala
| relief = yes
| map_width =
| map_caption =
| image = File:Elephant - ആന 04.JPG
| image_caption = A baby elephant in [[Kodanad]]
| location = [[Kaprikkad]] [[Ernakulam]], [[Kerala]], [[India]]
| nearest_city = [[Ernakulam]]
| coordinates = {{coord|10.18|N|76.51|E|display=inline,title}}
| area = 123 hectares
| established = 1895 (As elephant training centre <br /> 2011 (Relocated and upgraded into animal shelter and elephant training centre)
| visitation_num = 150,000 per year
| visitation_year = 2019
| governing_body = [[Kerala Forest Department]]
}}
'''Abhayaranyam''' is an animal shelter–[[zoo|mini zoo]], which functions under the [[Ecotourism|eco-tourism]] project of [[Kerala government]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=ആനകളും മാനുകളും കുളിര്‍ കാറ്റും... ഇതാ എറണാകുളത്ത് വണ്‍ഡേ ട്രിപ്പിന് പറ്റിയ സ്ഥലം|url=https://www.mathrubhumi.com/travel/kerala/kaprikkad-abhayaranya-kappa-tv-open-road-perfect-place-for-a-one-day-trip-to-ernakulam-1.3894330|access-date=2021-02-27|website=Mathrubhumi|language=en|archive-date=2020-11-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201128011213/https://www.mathrubhumi.com/travel/kerala/kaprikkad-abhayaranya-kappa-tv-open-road-perfect-place-for-a-one-day-trip-to-ernakulam-1.3894330|url-status=dead}}</ref> Located near to [[Kaprikkad|Kaprikad]] village in [[Kunnathunad]] taluk of [[Ernakulam]] district, the shelter was opened in 2011, with an aim to rehabilitate the animals in the [[Kodanad]] [[elephant]] training center, located two kilometers away.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Abhayaranyam Eco Tourism in Kerala {{!}} Eco tourism programmes in Ernakualm|url=https://www.keralatourism.org/ecotourism/trekking-programs/abhayaranyam-eco-tourism/41|access-date=2021-02-27|website=www.keralatourism.org}}</ref> '''Kodanad Elephant training center''' was one of renowned and largest elephant training center in [[Kerala]]. It was also the first elephant training center in Kerala, started in 1895.<ref>{{Cite web|title=കോടനാട് : കേരളത്തിലെ ഏറ്റവും വലിയ ആന പരിശീലന കേന്ദ്രങ്ങളില്‍ ഒന്ന്, അഭയാരണ്യം, കപ്രിക്കാട്, കേരള വിനോദ സഞ്ചാരം|url=https://www.keralatourism.org/malayalam/destination/kodanad-ernakulam/123|access-date=2021-02-27|website=Kerala Tourism|language=ml}}</ref> The center covered an area of 2 acres and when the number of animals there kept increasing, all the animals were gradually relocated to Abhayaranyam, which has an area of 123 hectares.<ref>{{Cite web|title=സഞ്ചാരികളേ സ്വാഗതം: അഭയാരണ്യം വീണ്ടും തുറന്നു|url=https://www.manoramaonline.com/reporterscorner/ernakulam/2021/02/03/kaprikkad-abhayaranyam-reopened.html|access-date=2021-02-27|website=ManoramaOnline|language=ml}}</ref>

==History==
===Kodanad elephant training center===
[[File:Elephant Kraal, Kodanad.jpg|thumb|The famous elephant Kraal in Kodanad now remains as a reminiscent of its rich history]]
Elephant poaching and training were started in 1895 in the [[Malayattoor|Malayattor]] forest reserves. The Kodanad elephant training, situated near the banks of [[Periyar (river)|Periyar]] was started in the same year, when the [[Travancore]] government decided to train the elephants caught in the wild. By 1950, it became one of the biggest elephant centers in [[Kerala]]. Over a period of time, hundreds of other animals and birds were also brought into this place and it was developed as a mini-zoo. There were many [[mahouts]] here, who specialized in taming and teaching the elephants. When the [[Government of India|Indian government]] banned elephant poaching in 1977, it became a rehabilitation center for rescued elephants from forests, who have been injured or separated from their herd.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Abhayaranyam, an ideal weekend getaway from Ernakulam|url=https://www.onmanorama.com/travel/kerala/2019/12/02/abhayaranyam-ideal-getaway-from-ernakulam.html|access-date=2021-02-27|website=OnManorama}}</ref> With the relocation of the training center to nearby Abhayaranyam, the Kodanad elephant training center became unoperational was closed later. Presently, the main ''Aanakkoodu'' (elephant [[Kraal]]) here remains as a reminiscent of its rich history.<ref>{{Cite web|title=അഭയാരണ്യത്തിലും ആനക്കളരിയിലും വികസന പദ്ധതികള്‍|url=https://www.mathrubhumi.com/travel/news/development-projects-at-abhayaranyam-1.3932284|access-date=2021-02-27|website=Mathrubhumi|date=6 July 2019 |language=en}}</ref> Currently, it is under discussion to turn the century-old place into a heritage monument and start a new center for research on elephants. Some elephant lovers also demands to open a rescue center for baby elephants here.<ref>{{Cite web|last=രമേഷ്|first=പി|title=പ്രയോജനപ്പെടുത്താം, കോടനാടിന്റെ ഹരിതസാധ്യതകള്‍|url=https://www.mathrubhumi.com/travel/news/kodanad-periyar-kerala-tourism-malayalam-news-1.873171|access-date=2021-02-27|website=Mathrubhumi|date=18 February 2016 |language=en}}</ref>

===Abhayaranyam===

When the number of animals significantly increased in Kodanad, animal activists started complaining about keeping such a large number of animals in a small area of 2.5 acres of land. Abhayaranyam was opened on 18 February 2011, with an aim to house the elephants and other animals in open area of about two hundred acres with proper fencing to keep the animals safe.<ref>{{Cite web|title=കോടനാട് ആനക്കളരി അഭയാരണ്യത്തിലേക്ക് മാറ്റുന്നു|url=https://www.mathrubhumi.com/travel/news/kodanad-elephant-training-center-malayalam-news-1.728740|access-date=2021-02-27|website=Mathrubhumi|date=11 December 2015 |language=en}}</ref> The Abhayaranyam project was launched as a [[Zoo|mini zoo]] - rehabilitation center and as of 2021, it is home to six elephants and more than 300 deer.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Kerala: Cleanliness project to turn elephant dung into manure|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/good-news/2020/nov/09/cleanliness-project-to-turn-elephant-dung-into-manure-2221184.html|access-date=2021-02-27|website=The New Indian Express|date=9 November 2020 }}</ref> The center also has facilities like veterinary hospital, mortuary and water supply plant.

For elephant camp visit guests can easily stay in Elephant pass resort nearby
==See also==
*[[Kottur Elephant Sanctuary and Rehabilation Centre]]
*[[Elephant Training Center, Konni]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Elephant sanctuaries]]
[[Category:Wildlife rehabilitation and conservation centers]]
[[Category:Protected areas of Kerala]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Ernakulam district]]
[[Category:1895 establishments in India]]
[[Category:2011 establishments in Kerala]]
[[Category:Wildlife sanctuaries in Kerala]]

Kodanad Abhayaranyam animal shelter and elephant training centre - Revision history

Basavaraj at 03:41, 23 February 2026