By news section
CHENNAI: Elephant Whisperers, a documentary about a domesticated elephant from Tamil Nadu’s Theppakkad Elephant Camp, won an Oscar and tourists are flocking to see the elephant.
Pomman and Belli, a couple from the Kattu Nayak tribe, work as elephant keepers at Theppakkad, Asia’s largest domesticated elephant camp in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve, Nilgiris district. In 2017, a male baby elephant, separated from its mother, wandered around injured in Dhenkanikottai Charakam Ayur area of Krishnagiri district. This elephant has been brought to the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve and is being cared for by Pomman and Belli after naming it as Raghu. Similarly, another baby elephant who lost its mother is being cared for by naming it Ammu Kutti.
Documentary filmmaker Karthiki Konsalves from Uttgai has documented the story of a tribal couple who care for two baby elephants who have lost their mother. In this case, ‘The Elephant Whisperers’ has won the Oscar award. Following this success, a large number of local and foreign tourists have flocked to Theppakadu Elephant Camp to see the elephant featured in the documentary.
Tourist Grace said, “I am from London. We came here to see two baby elephants who have won Oscars. It was great to see them. I enjoyed them very much. Elephants are my favorite animal. I feel very lucky to have seen Oscar winning elephants.” .
As many tourists like him have come, Theppakadu Elephant Camp has started construction.