Mahouts, kavadis felicitated for their services

In recognition of their services, mahouts Vasantha and Gundu and kavadis Jaibal and Ravi were felicitated by retired secretary for forests A C Lakshmana at Mathigodu Elephant Camp in Virajpet taluk, under Nagarhole National Park, on Wednesday.

It has to be recalled that Jaibal and Ravi, caretakers of elephant Drona, successfully took part in the operation to rescue a rogue elephant at Nagavara in Alur taluk, Hassan district, recently. Another elephant, Gopalaswamy, from Veeranahosahalli camp had taken part in the operation.

Jaibal and Ravi could complete the operation even though Drona was attacked by the rogue elephant, which was in 'mast'. "Drona was injured but he recovered in a few minutes and joined Gopalaswamy to complete the operation," Jaibal said.

Vasantha is the mahout of Abhimanyu, the star trouble shooter. Vasantha said, "Abhimanyu has taken part in 30 operations to rescue rogue elephants in Hassan district alone. He has taken part in various elephant rescue operations across India whenever there was a man-animal conflict. Besides, he was instrumental in rescuing seven tigers. When my father Sanappa was his mahout, Drona had rescued 12 elephants in Madhya Pradesh," he said.

Assistant Conservator of Forests S R Prasanna Kumar said Vasantha was also on a 10-day tour to Indonesia, along with Nayaz from Dubare camp, to train the elephant caretakers in that country.

A C Lakshmana said that elephants are the most intelligent animals on earth and their caretakers understand them well and train them accordingly. "The services of the elephant caretakers to the Forest department in tackling man-animal conflict and in conserving the nature is commendable. They work under adverse conditions. So, it is our responsibility to recognise their services," he said.

He said that even though there is a general feeling among the people that 'kheda' (operation of rescuing elephants) has been stopped, only 'kheda' as a sport has been stopped. "The last kheda as sport was held at Kakanakote forest in 1972, and in 1962, even then President Rajendra Prasad was witness to 'kheda'. However, all rescue operations of elephants, during man-animal conflict, are similar to 'kheda'. Now, the officials have the option to use tranquilisers in case the operation becomes difficult," he said.

Range Forest Officer Y K Kiran Kumar said, till recently, there were 38 elephants in Mathigodu camp, but four of them have been given to Chhattisgarh while another four have been shifted to nearby camps, where availability of fodder is adequate.