Description: Nilgiris (Tamil Nadu), May 19, 2025 (ANI): India’s first Mahouts Village with 44 houses has been built at Theppakadu Elephant Camp in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve, costing ₹5.6 crore. Theppakadu Elephant Camp, established during British rule, is the oldest elephant camp in Asia, currently housing 27 elephants. Five elephants are retired, two are baby elephants under care, and 20 are Kumki elephants used to manage wild elephant conflicts. Kumki elephants are deployed to repel wild elephants from villages across Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh. 22 elephant units and cadres work as forest department staff, patrolling the forest and supporting human-wildlife conflict resolution. Tamil Nadu government has built 44 houses for elephant herders at Theppakadu Elephant Camp, costing ₹5.6 crore. Each house includes drinking water, toilets, and children's playgrounds, improving living standards for the herders. This is India's first initiative to construct dedicated housing for mahouts in an elephant camp. Each house is named after elephants who died while serving in the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve.
