S. Anil Radhakrishnan KATTAKADA: Releasing the pachyderms Ammu, Minna and Jaysree to the enclosures, Minister for Forest Benoy Viswom inaugurated the first phase of the Elephant Rehabilitation Centre being set up at Kappucaud near Kottoor in the Agasthyavanam Biological Park. The Minister, who was accompanied by Varkala Radhakrishnan, MP; G. Karthikeyan, MLA; presidents of the local bodies and forest officials, was greeted by Ammu and Minna by offering rose flowers. The Minister offered banana and jaggery to the elephants. Later, the six-year-old Ammu and five-and-a-half-year-old Minnu were released to the newly created enclosure. The two elephants celebrated the entry into the enclosure with trumpeting, taking the VIPs, forest officials, locals and mahouts by surprise. Soon, the elephants vanished in the half-an-acre natural environs of the enclosure. Six enclosures were set up with trenches around them. The Minister later released a 36-year-old elephant, Jayasree, to another enclosure. However, elephant Ranji, could not be released for some reasons. Tourists can enjoy the elephant ride being organised by the Kappucaud eco-development committee. The Minister inaugurated the office of the rehabilitation centre. He said the elephant rehabilitation centre would fetch Kottoor a place on the tourism map and attract tourists in large numbers in the coming days. Work on the centre, being set up in 140 acres, would be completed in three years at a cost of Rs.5 crore with the financial support of the Central government and voluntary organisations. The Minister said the centre, first of its kind in the country, would be developed as an international study and research centre on elephants. Chief Wildlife Warden J. K. Tivari and Wildlife Warden Anil Antony were among those who spoke at the function.