The second dedicated village for mahouts at the Kozhikamuthi Elephant Camp in the Anamalai Tiger Reserve.
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Monday (October 6, 2025) inaugurated the second dedicated village for mahouts at the Kozhikamuthi Elephant Camp in the Anamalai Tiger Reserve.
According to an official release, the village has been developed at a cost of ₹5.4 crore and comprises 47 staff quarters for mahouts and elephant caretakers. It follows the establishment of India’s first mahout village at Theppakadu in the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve earlier this year. Mr. Stalin inaugurated the village virtually.
Kozhikamuthi, one of the country’s oldest elephant camps, currently houses 24 elephants under the care of tribal mahouts who have inherited generations of traditional knowledge. The camp has been upgraded with modern amenities, including an elephant viewing gallery and a visitor walkway, the release said.
A notable addition is a solar-powered microgrid with battery storage, set up by the State Planning Commission at a cost of ₹3.5 crore. The system — comprising a 124 kWp solar plant, 516 kWh battery bank, and a 100 kW inverter — ensures uninterrupted, eco-friendly power supply to the camp and mahout households, even during cloudy or rainy weather.
The release added the State government has amended service rules to allow direct recruitment of kavadis from indigenous communities, safeguarding traditional expertise and integrating it with modern elephant management practices.
Senior officials including Supriya Sahu, Additional Chief Secretary to Departments of Environment and Forests, and Srinivas R. Reddy, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Head of Forest Force) were present at the inauguration.
Published – October 06, 2025 01:18 pm IST
