10-year-old elephant to be trained as kumki

Giri, a 10-year-old male elephant became the latest to join the herd at the Theppakadu elephant camp in the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve (MTR) on Saturday.

The elephant, which was found abandoned by its mother in the forests of Jawalgiri in Krishnagiri in 2010, was rescued and rehabilitated at the Arignar Anna Zoological Park (AAZP), and has grown up to be an extremely gentle and docile animal, forest department officials said.

V. A. Saravanan, Deputy Director of MTR, said that since Giri, and another young elephant that was being brought up at the AAZP needed to be trained to become kumkis, Giri has been brought to Theppakadu while the other elephant has been taken to the Anaimalai Tiger Reserve (ATR).

Healthy

“The animal is very healthy and is coping with the move to Theppakadu very well. As he was brought here during the summer, he will find it easier to adapt to the weather,” added Mr. Saravanan.

Forest department officials said that the male elephant, can expect to have a long life span in MTR, and stated that the animal was being kept at the Bombax Camp temporarily so officials can monitor its health before introducing it to the 22 other elephants, including a calf, kept at the Theppakadu elephant camp.

Cheran and John

Recently, two of the kumkis at Theppakadu – Cheran and John, were sent for kumki operations in Coimbatore, while another elephant, Sujay, was brought back to MTR after being injured by a wild elephant last February. “With Giri joining the camp, the number of elephants will be the same as before at 23 individuals,” added Mr. Saravanan.