Famous Kumki of Annamalai Tiger Reserve Kalim with her mahout Mani at Kozhikmuthi Elephant Camp. , photo credit: Wilson Thomas
With the legendary 60 year old Kalim kumki Tamil Nadu Forest Department’s young crop raider retired on Tuesday after 99 successful operations from Chinnathambi- kumkiHe is likely to succeed as the first among equals.
A kumki A captive trained elephant, used in operations to capture, tranquilize, or help herd wild elephants.
Kumki Chinnathambi of Annamalai Tiger Reserve has recently been engaged in capturing a stray makhana in human habitations in Coimbatore. , photo credit: s. Shiva Saravanan
Chinnathambi, 29, has already done two successful operations to capture A butter (tuskless male elephant), first from Dharmapuri and later from Coimbatore. Annamalai Tiger Reserve (ATR) field director S. “Chinnathambi is our first priority based on physical characteristics and ability to understand and execute commands,” says Ramasubramanian.
Although relatively young, Chinnathambi displayed diligence and obedience during his recent possession of a butter from Dharmapuri and the same elephant from Coimbatore [after it travelled over 100 km from Varagaliyar forests in the ATR where it was released after first capture],” he points out.
cool and capable
The rookie has already worked with the veteran. Chinnathambi had his first field experience with Kalim when he was taken to Kanivadi in Dindigul district in April 2022 to chase stray wild elephants into villages. He was tasked for his first independent operation in February this year.
“Chinnathambi is undoubtedly a possible candidate to replace the vacancy left vacant by Kalim. this young kumki “It is highly tolerant of the prevailing conditions as the animal itself was exposed to people, noise and other disturbances,” says NS Manoharan, a retired herpetologist who worked with the forest department for three decades.
When butter Captured a second time from Perur near Coimbatore, the banana farm was heavily crowded and noisy. “However, Chinnathambi seemed very calm and completed the task despite being a rookie. The animal also has a perfect physique and teeth kumkiHe notes.
crop raiding background
Forest personnel other than experienced mahout The (elephant handlers) also see a potential successor in Chinnathambi, himself a crop raider. He was caught in 2019 at the age of 25 from Kannadiputhur near Udumalpet.
of Kalim mahout R. Mani had earlier said that Chinnathambi could be an ideal replacement when he retires from service. Continuous training and association with the animal was necessary to groom the young elephant into a reliable kumkiHe said that.