Description: Nilgiris (Tamil Nadu), May 19, 2025 (ANI): India’s first Mahouts Village with 44 houses has been built at Theppakadu Elephant Camp in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve, costing ₹5.6 crore. Theppakadu Elephant Camp, established during British rule, is the oldest elephant camp in Asia, currently housing 27 elephants. Five elephants are retired, two are baby elephants under care, and 20 are Kumki elephants used to manage wild elephant conflicts. Kumki elephants are deployed to repel wild elephants from villages across Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh. 22 elephant units and cadres work as forest department staff, patrolling the forest and supporting human-wildlife conflict resolution. Tamil Nadu government has built 44 houses for elephant herders at Theppakadu Elephant Camp, costing ₹5.6 crore. Each house includes drinking water, toilets, and children's playgrounds, improving living standards for the herders. This is India's first initiative to construct dedicated housing for mahouts in an elephant camp. Each house is named after elephants who died while serving in the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve.
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00:27Oh, it's hot!
00:34It's hot!
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00:50Let's go, let's go, let's go!
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01:50Let's go, let's go!
02:20The Mutamalai Tiger Reserve in the Niligri's district holds the Tepakad elephant camp which
02:29is a century old and is known for actually taking care of elephants. So we have engaged
02:35elephant men who are native tribes of this Niligri district. We have a sanctioned post
02:40of 22 Mawath and 22 Kavadis. So totally 44 people are engaged to take care of our camp
02:45elephants. At present we are having 27 elephants at the camp. This is the first time in India
02:51that a township is created exclusively for the occupation of our Mawath and Kavadi as
02:57a garment quarters. This township has all facilities including an eco-friendly house,
03:02road, drainage, sewage system, a children's play area. The entire area is completely protected
03:08by a solar hanging fence. So we are also giving them solar street light and drinking water
03:13supply. This is very exclusive for any of the garment employees that is being provided.