https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

The Elephant Whisperers, Guardian Angel To Many Pachyderms

Indian Masterminds Stories

A two-weeks baby elephant was mistakingly got separated from his family in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve, Tamil Nadu in September last year. He would certainly have become a victim of wild beasts but for a mahout Bomman, who took care of the calf like his child. 

On the third day, he identified a female elephant in a herd deep inside the MTR, as the calf’s mother and helped them reunite. Bomman is the most experienced mahout in the Theppakadu camp of MTR, the one which can communicate even with the wildest of the beasts. He is also the real hero of the short film The Elephant Whisperers, which won the Oscar Award last night. 

The mahout and elephants develop a bond

Speaking to Indian Masterminds Field Director, MTR, Mr. K Venkatesh said, “I was with them for all those three days. Bomman surprised everyone by recognizing the calf’s mother even from a distance and reunited the two without being afraid that elephants might attack him. After both the calf and mother re-united we monitored them through a drone to make sure that the calf was comfortable.”

Theppakadu is the oldest elephant camp in Asia. The Oscar-winning documentary was shot in and near that camp in MTR. 

Whenever an elephant calf is orphaned or left behind by the herd, usually Bomman is the main person to take care of it and reunite him with his mother – if she is alive. “He is mother to scores of elephants now”, says Mr. Venkatesh.  

TWO ORPHANS

Elephant calf Raghu – depicted in the Oscar-winning documentary – was orphaned near the Gudalur division in MTR while five-month-old Ammu was rescued from near the Satyamangalam Tiger Reserve and brought to the camp. 

Since Bomman is the most experienced so he is the first one to reach. While the lady – who took care of both Raghu and Ammu in the film – Bellie, was a temporary labour working in the camp. Raghu has now been united with his herd. It seems he had come out of his lair only to facilitate the filming of this documentary. Ammu on the other hand is now three and a half years old and in perfect shape, said Mr. Venkatesh. 

Bomman with baby Ammu

The officer also said that the role of a caregiver like Bomman is so important for us as sometimes the calves are not accepted by their own kind. In such a situation, these people not only take care of them but also provide them with the love which every species needs. 

ROWDY BECOMES MR. GENTLEMAN

IFS officer when the documentary was being shot, said that the camp has 25 captive elephants today. Not only the orphaned calves but the rowdy elephants are also brought into the camps to be controlled and tamed. 

These mahouts provide such care that the most obstreperous elephants start behaving like a cow. When such elephants are captured there are kept in an enclosure for two months. A few years back an elephant named Murthy was brought to Theppakudi. He had killed 8 persons and had taken 16-17 bullets. Now, he is the most-gentle elephant in the camp.

Mr. KK Kaushal, Field Director of Madumalai Tiger Reserve, Tamil Nadu

WORLD NEEDS TO WATCH

Chief Warden of Tamil Nadu Dr. Shekhar Niraj who played an important role in providing the legal permission and support for this documentary says that the world needed to see this. “We liked the approach and concept of the director Kartiki Gonsalves. Her knowledge of wildlife and their behaviour was so impeccable that even we used to be surprised at times. We granted her all the help. It is important for everyone to know the such story of human-animal bond & co-existence because it helps with conservation.”, he told Indian Masterminds

He also added that visual medium creates a psychological impact and that is why it is the strongest medium. Depiction of such real stories creates a deeper regard and respect for conservation. 

2700 BOMMANS 

Director of Project Elephant Mr. Ramesh Pandey, IFS, says many mahouts may epitomize cruelty to animals. But, actually, the two share a strong bond like mother and child. That’s why the government has instituted Gaj Gaurav Award to honour mahouts, the caretakers of elephants.

There are about 30,000 wild animals in India besides 2700 elephants staying in captivity. Usually, one mahout takes care of one elephant only. That way, there are at least 2700 mahouts like Bomman in the country. Some of them were recently sent to Thailand for advanced training in elephant care. 


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
IAS Ashwani Kumar
Assam’s Bold Bet on Local Talent: IAS Ashwani Kumar’s Vision for a Digital Assam
Haryana Jungle Safari
Haryana’s Mega Jungle Safari Project Moves Closer to Reality; Phase-I Design Finalised
SBK Singh IPS CP
Delhi Police Commissioner S B K Singh Bans Aerial Platforms from August 2 to 16 for Security Reasons
IPS-logo-resized_new
10 Senior Cops Get New Roles In Bihar Police; DG Jitendra Kumar Gets Additional Charge of B-SAP
Indian Forest Services IFS officer
Jharkhand IFS Rajneesh Kumar Transferred Amid Ongoing Legal Proceedings - Details Inside
Uttar Pradesh UP Government
17 Review Officers Transferred in Uttar Pradesh Secretariat Administration Reshuffle - Details Inside
IFS-forest-resized
6 IFS Officers Transferred in Odisha to Strengthen Environmental Administration, Jagayandatt Pati Made RCCF, Koraput Circle
IAS Officers Indian Administrative Services IAS logo
4 Young IAS Officers Reshuffled in Uttarakhand, Rahul Anand Made Joint Magistrate, Dehradun
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
IAS Karn Satyarthi
How IAS Karn Satyarthi Transformed Gumla Through Empathy and Innovation
Ananth Rupanagudi IRAS
IRAS Ananth Rupanagudi’s Take on Corruption, Reform, and Duty
WhatsApp Image 2025-07-26 at 13.16
What Most Indians Don't Know About Jim Corbett
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
BPSC Bihar police
From Lantern Light to Police Uniform: How Praveen Kumar from a Small Bihar Village Cracked BPSC to Become SDPO
From a lantern-lit village in Bihar to becoming an SDPO, Praveen Kumar's journey is a testament to resilience,...
IAS Priyansha Garg
Why Mindset Matters: IAS Priyansha Garg’s Mental Health Mantra for UPSC
After two failed prelims, Priyansha Garg cracked UPSC with AIR 31 in her fourth attempt, proving how...
Ashish Akshat
From Setback to State Topper: How Ashish Akshat Topped JPSC While Working Full-Time
Ashish Akshat from Dhanbad topped JPSC 2023, proving that resilience, discipline, and family support...
Social Media
Mudumalai Tiger Reserve
Mudumalai Tiger Reserve: From India’s First Sanctuary to a Tiger Conservation Success Story | International Tiger Day Special
IAS Supriya Sahu Hails Mudumalai's Role in Tiger Conservation on Tiger Day. Declared in 1940, Now Among...
Mangroves
Mangroves: Nature’s Shield Against Disasters, Says Officer Parveen Kaswan on Mangroves Day - Watch His Post Here
Mangroves, with their dense, interlaced root systems, form a mesh-like structure that serves as a buffer...
Retired IPS Inderjit Singh Sidhu
Purpose Doesn’t Retire: How 88-Year-Old Retired DIG Becomes Chandigarh’s ‘Quiet Warrior’ of Cleanliness
Inderjit Singh Sidhu’s Dawn Patrol Earns Applause, Mahindra’s Praise for a Man Who Chose Action Over...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
IAS Ashwani Kumar
Assam’s Bold Bet on Local Talent: IAS Ashwani Kumar’s Vision for a Digital Assam
Haryana Jungle Safari
Haryana’s Mega Jungle Safari Project Moves Closer to Reality; Phase-I Design Finalised
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
IAS Karn Satyarthi
Ananth Rupanagudi IRAS
WhatsApp Image 2025-07-26 at 13.16
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT