It was not exactly an ideal start to my day. We were driving uphill through forests on a mud road on a freezing morning. A thick blanket of mist shrouded Top Slip, restricting visibility to less than five metres. I was sure the driver was operating the van based on gut instinct rather than actual sight. To top it all, I was hungry, having skipped breakfast.
There was no mobile tower and the scent of the forest filled the air. We saw fresh elephant droppings, which meant they were in the vicinity. Just then, the van broke down. I saw the trip slide downhill, but soon another Forest Department vehicle picked us up, and we soon trundled into the Kozhi Kamudhi Elephant Camp, nestled among green hillocks and a clear stream.
Around seven kilometres from Top Slip near Pollachi, this is one of the five places in the State that has hosted this year's annual rejuvenation programme for 53 Forest Department elephants. Part of the Anamalai Tiger Reserve (ATR), it hosts the second highest number of elephants (22) for the rejuvenation camp, next only to Mudhumalai Tiger Reserve which has 26.
The sprawling camp and the cool breeze is rejuvenating. The camp is home to some of the most illustrious elephants in the Forest Department, such as Sivakami, a 62-year-old female who retired after putting in three decades of ‘safari’ service. Other star inmates include Kaleem, Kapil Dev and Venkatesh, a deadly trio that were captured during Operation Malai, a much-heralded mission to translocate the herd that frequently raided agricultural fields and human habitations in Thiruvannamalai and Villupuram in August 2013. Looking at them now, playing with their mahouts, it is difficult to imagine that they had such a notorious past.
There are several other adults with lovely tusks and a regal bearing, but the cynosure of all eyes is an 11-month-old male calf with a playful demeanour and twinkling eyes. He was rescued by Forest Department staff when he got swept by strong currents while crossing a river in the Sathyamangalam forest, and was separated from the herd. The calf was injured and could barely stand. After futile attempts to send him back to his herd, the calf was sent to the Kozhi Kamudhi camp. There, he struck up a bond with V. Arumugam, an anti-poaching watcher who has brought up seven elephant calves in his 16 years of service.
But, this one is the most playful, he says, trying to fend off the calf’s trunk that reaches for his cup of tea. When it is feeding time, the calf immediately begins to walk fast around the camp and towards the kitchen.
When he is hot, he drags Arumugam to the nearby stream. And, never lets the watcher out of his sight. Even when Arumugam goes to fetch food, the calf follows him right up the stairs of the kitchen. His diet includes milk, proteins and glucose. He weighs nearly 350 kg.
And he still awaits christening. The Government is supposed to name him.
Complete rest
V.T. Kandasamy, Field Director of ATR, says the elephants will be given complete rest during the 48-day camp. They will have no kumki duty and safaris are put on hold. A contingent of 45 forest department personnel has been pressed into service for this camp. Two full-time veterinarians will tend to the elephants. They will customise a diet for each elephant. Special medicine such as ‘ashta choornam,’ ‘chyavanaprasam,’ boost-up bolus tablets, LIV 52 bolus tablets, protein, vitamin and multi-mineral supplements will be given too, says District Forest Officer (Pollachi), V. Asokan.
While this is the seventh rejuvenation camp, this is only the second time that separate camps are being conducted for the Forest Department and temple elephants. The camp is open for the public during all 48 days. Tourists can drive up to the ATR reception area at Top Slip from where a Forest Department vehicle will take them to Kozhi Kamudhi camp.
