Coimbatore : Amid protest and picketing by villagers, the 11th edition of the rejuvenation camp for temple elephants began at Thekkampatti on the banks of the Bhavani on Friday.

Tamil Nadu HR and CE Minister Sevoor S Ramachandran, who inaugurated the camp, along with Forest Minister Dindigul Serinivasan and Municipal Administration Minister S P Velumani, said 27 elephants from various temples and mutts were participating in the 48-day camp.

Separately, about 40 farmers of surrounding 23 villages attempted to stage a picketing in front of the convoy carrying the Ministers against conduct the camp there. They said there was threat to humans and crops as wild elephants strayed into the villages, following the presence of elephants in the camp,

However, all of them were arrested and taken away from the scene, police said. Ramachandran said adequate medical care would be provided to the elephants at the camp by a team of veterinarian and all elephants would be provided with nutritious food and special diet.

About the protests, Velumani said there was no such threat and the government had taken adequate safety measures to protect the villagers in and around the camp, which would end on January 30.

As part of safety measures, the entire area was solar fenced to prevent the entry of elephants and also dozens of camera were fixed to monitor the movement of animals