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Elephant Whisperer: India's First Female Mahout
1 Aug
Summary
- Parbati Barua is India's first female elephant mahout.
- She trained over 500 elephants using traditional methods.
- Awarded Padma Shri for wildlife conservation efforts.
Parbati Barua carved a unique path, becoming India's first female elephant mahout and a respected conservationist. Born into royalty in Assam, she eschewed a life of comfort for the challenging profession of handling elephants.
She learned from her father, who kept numerous elephants, spending her childhood in forests observing their behavior. At 14, she successfully captured her first wild elephant in Assam's Kochugaon forests.
Between 1975 and 1978, Barua tamed 14 wild elephants using the traditional Assamese 'Mela Shikar' technique. Over decades, her expertise expanded, leading her to train over 500 elephants across various regions.
Known as 'Hasti Kanya' (Daughter of Elephants), her profound bond with them stems from understanding their sentiments. She considers three elephants her daughters: Lakshmimala, Aloka, and Kanchanmala.
Barua's dedication earned her the Padma Shri on India's 75th Republic Day. Despite risks, including a painful operation in 2003 to euthanize a rampaging elephant in Chhattisgarh, she continues her work, finding fulfillment in caring for these animals.
Her life was also the subject of the BBC documentary 'Queen of the Elephants,' introducing her extraordinary achievements to a global audience.
