CM felicitates tribal couple in Oscar-winning documentary

Udhagamandalam: Chief minister M K Stalin felicitated the tribal couple who were featured in the Oscar-winning documentary film, “The Elephant Whisperers”, at the secretariat in Chennai on Wednesday.
He handed over a shield and a cheque for ₹1 lakh each to K Bomman and his wife Bellie, who raised two orphaned elephant calves at Theppakadu elephant camp, as a token of appreciation.
Stalin announced a grant of ₹1 lakh each to all the 91 mahouts and cavadies (assistants to mahouts) at the elephant camps at Theppakadu in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve (MTR) in the Nilgiris and Kozhikamuthi in Anamalai Tiger Reserve (ATR) from the Chief Minister’s Public Relief Fund on the occasion.
He also announced a financial assistance of ₹9.1 crore for construction of eco-friendly and culturally compatible houses for all the 91 elephant caretakers.
“The Elephant Whisperers”, which won the Academy Award for the best documentary short subject, was shot at Theppakadu elephant camp, where Bomman and Bellie were working as caretakers. They were tasked with the responsibility of raising orphaned elephant calves Raghu and Bommi, who were other heroes of the documentary.
Speaking to TOI, Bomman said he never thought that the documentary would bring them fame and honour. “I am thankful to the government for felicitating all the 91 mahouts and cavadies in the state.”
Bellie said she was missing her ‘Ammu’ (Bommi) even after two years. “The forest department gave me the elephant calf orphaned in Dharmapuri to foster it. I miss Bommi so much that I long to have it back.”
Supriya Sahu, additional chief secretary, environment, climate change and forest, said the documentary has brought global recognition for the Tamil Nadu forest department’s dedicated focus on elephant care.
The state government, which sanctioned ₹5 crore to renovate Kozhikamuthi elephant camp at ATR, also announced the plans to set up a new elephant camp at Sadivayal in Coimbatore district at a cost of ₹8 crore.
It is to be noted that during his visit to Ooty last May, Stalin had announced the plans to set up a state-of-the-art elephant conservation centre and eco complex at Theppakkadu elephant camp in MTR. “A detailed project report has been prepared in this regard,” Sahu said.
Forest minister M Mathivendan, meanwhile, felicitated 10 mahouts and cavadies from the two elephant camps by handing them over the grant of ₹1 lakh each.