Bomman and Pelli, from the Kattu Nayak tribe, work as elephant keepers at Theppakkad, Asia’s largest domesticated elephant camp in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve, Nilgiris district.
Last year in 2017, a male elephant calf was wandering around injured after being separated from its mother in Ayyur area of Dhenkanikottai Saragham in Krishnagiri district. The forest department rescued the cub and kept it under their care. Bagan Bomman of Mudumalai Tiger Reserve went to Krishnagiri to take care of the baby elephant.
In this case, the Krishnagiri forest department consulted to take this baby elephant to Mudumalai and take care of it. The baby elephant was brought to the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve last month with permission from the Principal Conservator of Forests. Bomman and Belli are the caretakers of this baby elephant. They are taking care of the baby elephant named ‘Raghu’. In 2018, they are also taking care of another stuffed elephant that lost its mother.
In this case, the documentary film director Karthiki Consolves from Utgai made a documentary about the story of a tribal couple who took care of 2 baby elephants who lost their mother. The documentary was released on Netflix. Produced by Kuneethmonga.
The couple is taking care of baby elephants who have lost their mother. ‘The Elephant Whisperers’ is a documentary about the emotional story between these elephants.
The film has now won an Oscar. Belli is going about her daily work in Mudumalai without any fuss. Bomman has gone to provide training to forest officials in Dharmapuri district. There he was felicitated by Muthumalai Tiger Reserve Veterinarian Rajesh Kumar, Dharmapuri Division Sarakar Natarajan and Forest Department officials.
