Exploited in their youth and physically abused when they are not able to work anymore, old elephants in Kerala can now look forward to a life away from the dreaded sharp hook of the mahout. The state's forest department is to launch an old-age home for elephants, the first in the country. The geriatric centre for elephants will come up in Kottur on the outskirts of Thiruvananthapuram, as early as in May, say forest department officials. The centre will be a natural forest where 30 elephants can live for the rest of their lives. Kerala has the highest number of captive elephants (900) in the country.