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FOREWORD
The elephant has been with man in war and peace as a trusted
friend from time immemorial. Our epics and folklore are replete with
legends about this magnificent giant. How man could tame the largest
terrestrial animal is a question on which we can only speculate for
answers. Possibly the initial associations must have started when
both the man and the animal were forest dwellers and shared the same
habitat.
The elephant has a position of distinction in our cultural and
political history. Classical literature and other writings of those
ages clearly point out that elephants have been accorded a position
of dignity and divinity. There are also treatises dealing with the
art and science of elephant maintenance. All this speaks of the
strong bond man had with the elephant. This bond was based on
respect for the elephant and a sound understanding of the needs of
the animal. Sadly, this situation has changed recently. When man
started using elephants for economic gain only, the traditional bond
of love respect and understanding that the elephant and mahout
shared underwent a transformation. The bond became exploitative.
Health and welfare of the elephant became insignificant issues as
long as the elephant was able to bring in money. People interested
in correcting the situation have formed pressure groups and also
pushed for regulations and legislation to further the cause of
elephants. In addition to this short term strategy it is also
necessary to improve skills in elephant management on a long term
basis. "Practical Elephant Management: A Handbook for Mahouts " is
an attempt to cater to this need.
Kerala is known as the "elephant state" for its large captive
elephant population. The current estimate is that there are 600
elephants and at least 80% of them are tuskers. These elephants are
an important aspect of Kerala’s cultural and religious festivities.
The mahouts who manage these elephant were respected and admired.
The skills of mahoutery have been passed down for many generations
of mahouts. It is a specialised profession requiring both
intelligence and physical prowess. The mahout should have patience,
tolerance and humility and at the same time presence-of-mind and
quick reflexes. The profession can also be dangerous. There are many
instances of accidents where the mahout is injured or killed.
Elephant lovers of Kerala fondly remember the names of popular
elephants and their mahouts even today. Till recently mahouts were
respected in the society.
In recent years, the quality of elephant management has
degenerated. Increasing demand for elephants at festivals and
functions have made elephant management a lucrative affair. This has
attracted a new breed of youngsters with no traditional method of
initiation in the art of mahoutery. These new aspirants had neither
knowledge to handle elephants, nor respect for the work they have
taken up. Not surprisingly many of them used various violent methods
to control elephants. This led to casualties for both elephants and
mahouts. Private elephant owners who see the elephant only as an
investment have not paid much attention to the quality of elephant
management. Elephant management deteriorated as a result.
These issues brought people with concern for elephants together
and the Elephant Welfare Association, was formed in Trichur. EWA
aimed at improving elephant management through a multi-pronged
strategy. As a part of this strategy the need to improve the
capacities of mahouts were realised. The mahouts were taken through
a training program which drew on the expertise of modern disciplines
like veterinary sciences and traditional strengths like indigenous
mahoutery and skills. The first training course was a collaborative
effort of Kerala Forest Department, Elephant Welfare Association,
Zoo Outreach Organisation ( Z.O.O.) and Universities Federation for
Animal Welfare (UFAW at UK), the latter being an animal welfare
organisation which provided financial assistance for the course. The
first batch of trainees underwent a three month training programme.
This was held in the last quarter of 1995.
The training programme was an innovative stride forward in
elephant management in Kerala. However it also led to some
misunderstandings. The traditional mahouts assumed that the trained
mahouts would replace them from the current jobs. The elephant
owners thought the training course has created the perfect mahout
who could handle any elephant given to him. These misconceptions
were gradually cleared. The organisers of the course consider that
the graduates are fit only to be installed as second or third mahout
to an elephant. The course is not merely an attempt at enhancing
skills of elephant management. It also looks at ways of instilling
an ethical dimension to elephant management. Thus self reliance,
spirit of co-operation, perseverance, self respect and dignity of
labour are seen as core values for a mahout.
‘Practical Elephant Management - A Handbook for Mahouts’ is the
result of the experience gained from training two batches of
mahouts. The sharing of ideas among trainees, trained mahouts,
elephant owners, veterinarians and general public was an enriching
experience and provided the inspiration for this book. The book
covers a broad range of topics such as - management in captivity in
various parts of India, evolution, musth, physiology, anatomy,
disease, wild elephant and their conservation. Though the articles
are based on cultural and traditional practices in various parts of
India, I am sure that it holds universal lessons for elephant
management.
This book has been written in a very lucid style. A Malayalam
version of the book has been distributed to mahouts, elephant
lovers, owners and elephant managers in Kerala.
I am extremely glad and privileged to write the foreword to this
book, since I have been associated with the course at its conception
and also during its implementation. I hope the book would be
interesting and useful not only to mahouts, elephant mangers and
students of wildlife but also to any one who loves elephants.
T. M. Manoharan, I.F.S.
Chief Conservator of Forests
Kerala State Forest Department
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