‘Elephant Whisperer’ fame Bellie appointed first woman tusker caretaker at Nilgiris camp

Fabulous News. Tmt. Bellie our very own Elephant Whisperer has become the first woman to be appointed as a permanant woman Cavady ( Elephant Care Taker) by the Government of Tamil Nadu, for her selfless & dedicated service in saving precious elephant calves at Theppakau Elephant… pic.twitter.com/Gz6fVMsGZo

— Supriya Sahu IAS (@supriyasahuias) August 2, 2023

Chief Minister M K Stalin presented the appointment order to Belli in the presence of Bomman in the state secretariat. Forest Minister M Mathiventhan, Chief Secretary Shiv Das Meena and Supriya Sahu, Additional Chief Secretary, Environment, Climate Change and Forest, were also present.

The state government had earlier announced that all 91 mahouts and cavadis (assistant caretakers) working at its two elephant camps — Theppakadu in Mudumalai and Kozhikamuthi in Anaimalai — would be provided Rs 1 lakh each from Chief Minister’s Public Relief Fund. Stalin also announced financial assistance of Rs 9.10 crore for constructing eco-friendly and culturally compatible houses for all elephant caretakers.

Directed by Kartiki Gonsalves, The Elephant Whisperers won the Oscar for Best Documentary Short Film at the 95th Academy Awards in March. In April, Prime Minister Narendra Modi travelled to Mudumalai Tiger Reserve and met with Bomman and Bellie on whom the documentary was made.

President Droupadi Murmu felicitated Bomman and Bellie at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in July. The President praised the couple belonging to the Kattunayakan tribe for devoting their life to taking care of orphaned baby elephants.