The Forest Department has finalised the place for construction of houses for the mahouts and cavadis (assistants) attached to the Kozhikamuthi elephant camp of the Anamalai Tiger Reserve (ATR) in Coimbatore district.
At present, 53 Malasar tribesmen are taking care of more than 20 camp elephants, including kumkis (tamed male elephants) that are used for special operations by the Department.
Out of these tribesmen, 47 persons who work as mahouts and cavadis will get houses. The announcement in this connection was made by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin in March last year, while felicitating Bomman and Bellie, the two human protagonists who were showcased in Oscar-winning Indian documentary ‘The Elephant Whisperers’.