Supriya Sahu, IAS, Additional Chief of Environment, Climate Change & Forests in Tamil Nadu, announced the launch of India’s first Mahout village at the Theppakadu Elephant Camp in the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve. In a tweet, she posted, ”Today, a dream comes true! The Elephant Whispers of India get a village dedicated to them at Theppakadu.”

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All about Theppakadu Elephant Camp

The village has been constructed by the Tamil Nadu Forest Department for Rs 5.6 crore. The village consists of 44 houses, one for each mahout and kavadi who are responsible for taking care of elephants. The design has been done based on the inputs received from the mahout. The village not only has homes, but it is also equipped with a children’s playground, basketball court, and the names of the streets have been kept after the elephants. ”From the design of the house to a basketball courts to kids playground, the village has been built in consultation with Mahouts,” Sahu stated. She also pointed out that the entire village is fueled with solar lights and has a solar fence.

The initiative is being praised as the first of its kind tribute to the selfless dedication for the elephant caretakers. ”It is beautifully lit by solar lights and carefully protected with a solar fence,” Sahu mentioned, calling the project an ’ode’ to the mahouts and kavadis.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, who was on a visit to the Nilgiris district, inspected the Theppakadu camp where 27 elephants are living, as per a PTI report. He also had an interaction with Bonman and Bellie, the couple who were featured in the Oscar-winning documentary The Elephant Whispers. Stalin also interacted with the tribal children during his visit.