Tamil Nadu Inaugurates India’s First Dedicated Mahouts’ Village at Mudumalai Tiger Reserve.
National
In May 2025, Tamil Nadu (TN) Chief Minister Muthuvel Karunanidhi (M.K.) Stalin inaugurated India’s first Mahouts’ Village at Theppakadu Elephant Camp in the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve (MTR), located in Nilgiris district, Tamil Nadu.
- The village comprises 44 eco-friendly houses constructed by the Tamil Nadu Forest Department (TNFD) at a cost of Rs 5.6 crore, aimed at improving the living standards of mahouts and cavadis who have served for generations in elephant care and management.
- The initiative provides dignified housing for mahouts and cavadis, particularly from the Irular, Vettakorumbar, and Kattunayakar tribal communities, who have a longstanding tradition in elephant handling.
- The newly built houses in the Mahouts' Village are equipped with essential amenities such as drinking water, toilets, solar lighting, children’s playgrounds, and solar fencing for protection. Each house is uniquely named after elephants that died in service at the Theppakadu Elephant Camp, while the village lanes are named after camp elephants.
Main Point :- (i) Additionally, recreational facilities like a basketball court have been included based on consultations with the mahout community, reflecting their needs and preserving the legacy of their bond with elephants.
(ii) Established in 1917 during British rule, the Theppakadu Elephant Camp is Asia’s oldest elephant camp. It currently houses 27 elephants, including 20 Kumkis and 5 retired ones.
(iii) The trained elephants are deployed to repel wild elephants from villages across Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh. The new Mahouts’ Village ensures better care for elephants by enhancing the well-being of their handlers.
About Tamil Nadu
Chief minister: M K Stalin
Governor: R. N. Ravi
____________________________
