LUCKNOW: The Uttar Pradesh government is now training elephants to counter poaching and other illegal activities in forests, a senior forest official said on Monday.

"Taking into account the fact that elephants are one of the best modes of transport in the forest terrain, we will take their assistance to check illegal activities in forests," said B.K. Patnaik, principal chief conservator of forests.

At present, the forest department is training five elephants to guard reserves of Dudhwa (Lakhmipur district) and Katarniya ghat (Bahraich district) in the state, he added.

As soon as the training is complete, the elephants along with the forest guards, who are also being trained to manage them, will guard different areas of the forests, the official added.

The 14-day training programme is being conducted at Dudhwa forests reserve in the state.