A dedicated village for mahouts, the unsung heroes of elephant conservation in the Nilgiris

The Hindu

21-05-2025

For ages, the mahouts and 'kavadis' in Udhagamandalam lived in dilapidated houses with minimum facilities. Last week, however, at the heart of the Theppakadu Elephant Camp, the more than 40 mahout and 'kavadi' families, which take care of the camp's elephants, were busy moving into their new homes.
In between preparing for Chief Minister M.K. Stalin's visit to the camp on May 13, the mahouts spoke to journalists about how the newly constructed houses, a stone's throw away from the main elephant camp, is a step towards ensuring the safety and welfare of the Forest Department's most understated cadre.
'We live in the settlements around the camp, in dilapidated houses that lack sanitation and amenities. These newly constructed houses are a welcome relief, especially if we need to rush to the camp in the evening hours, when wildlife movement is high,' said a mahout.
Streets named after elephants
This village, said to be the 'first dedicated township', has 44 houses built with modern techniques and comforts for mahouts, 'kavadis', and their families, with the 'cultural sensitivities' of the Adivasis factored in. The streets are named after famed camp elephants and there are volleyball courts and playing areas for the children of the 'elephant whisperers', including Bomman and Bellie, the couple who have gained international fame for their role as protagonists in the Oscar-winning documentary of the same name, released in 2022.
While the documentary has undoubtedly shone the spotlight on the mahouts and 'kavadis' of the Theppakadu Elephant Camp, Forest Department officials say improving the lives of the staff members has been a matter of concern for the department. Both Bomman and Bellie were present at the inauguration of the village. They were happy that they had met the Chief Minister and the township had been opened in the camp.
Speaking to The Hindu, Chief Wildlife Warden Rakesh Kumar Dogra said the project, 'the brain-child of the Chief Minister and Supriya Sahu, Secretary, Environment, Climate Change and Forests,' would greatly benefit the mahouts and 'kavadis', who have deserved dedicated housing.
'The mahouts and 'kavadis' are at the lowest rung of the Forest Department, but they are the front-line workers who look after and train captive elephants that are used in a number of roles, including minimising negative human-animal interactions,' he said.
The families consulted
He said that as there was no housing for these workers, the Chief Minister announced the construction of houses for the mahouts and 'kavadis' at the Theppakadu and Kozhikamuthu Elephant Camps in the Anamalai Tiger Reserve. 'What is unique is that they were consulted when the houses were designed and built to factor in their basic requirements.'
Senior officials of the Forest Department say that the proximity of the village to the camp would help increase its operational efficiency. 'Most of the mahouts and 'kavadis' work 16-18 hours a day. In case an elephant is sick, it will be convenient for them to attend to it as their houses are a few hundred metres away,' says an official attached to the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve.
The mahouts and 'kavadis' will be allowed to stay in the houses until retirement, officials said.
According to Ms. Sahu, the initiative celebrated the 'unsung heroes of elephant conservation in Tamil Nadu that are the mahouts and 'kavadis'.' 'At the centre of conservation efforts are our two elephant camps, or rather, our elephant conservation centres, located in Mudumalai and Kozhikamudi. These centres serve as sanctuaries for wild elephants rescued from conflict or those who are orphaned, injured, or abandoned,' she said.
'Care and wisdom'
'This successful journey of wildlife conservation in Tamil Nadu would not have been possible without the tireless dedication of mahouts and 'kavadis' from indigenous tribal communities who have nurtured generations of elephants with unmatched care and wisdom. They are not merely handlers but lifelong custodians of elephants,' Ms. Sahu told The Hindu in a statement. Mahout villages have been established at both centres, at a cost of ₹9.1 crore, to 'foster dignity, belonging, and a shared commitment to elephant conservation. This will ensure that both elephants and their guardians thrive side by side, taking elephant conservation initiatives forward,' she added.