Chennai, 17 June (H.S.): Fifteen mahouts and cavadis (elephant assistants) from Tamil Nadu will begin a week-long specialized training program on scientific elephant care and management at the renowned Thai Elephant Conservation Center (TECC) in Lampang, Thailand, starting today, Tuesday, June 17, 2025.

This international exposure is a key part of the Tamil Nadu government's broader initiative to modernize elephant management practices, aiming to enhance the welfare of both the majestic animals and their dedicated handlers.

The comprehensive program at TECC will cover various aspects of modern elephant management, including crucial elements like nutrition, healthcare, behavioral understanding, efficient camp administration, and advanced techniques to foster stronger bonds between handlers and elephants. The trainers at the Thai facility are globally recognized for their ability to seamlessly integrate traditional wisdom with cutting-edge scientific approaches to captive elephant welfare.

This is the second cohort of elephant caregivers from Tamil Nadu to undergo training at TECC. The first batch, comprising 13 mahouts and cavadis, successfully completed their training in 2023. Supriya Sahu, Additional Chief Secretary of the Environment, Climate Change and Forests Department, highlighted that the primary objective of these programs is to promote cross-learning and bring back best practices to significantly improve the standards of care in Tamil Nadu's elephant camps.

Elephants in Tamil Nadu are primarily housed in forest camps in areas like Theppakkadu in Mudumalai and Kozhikamuthi in Anamalai, where traditional knowledge of elephant care has been passed down through generations within tribal communities such as the Malasars and Irulas. This training aims to combine that invaluable traditional wisdom with modern, scientific methods.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Dr. R. B. Chaudhary