Chennai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K.Stalin on Wednesday felicitated Bomman and Belli, caretakers of young calf ‘Raghu’ featured in the Oscar-winning documentary film "The Elephant Whisperers" taken at Mudumalai Elephant camp.
Mr Staliln presented them a Shield of appreciation and a cheque for Rs.1.00 lakh each at the State Secretariat.
He said the Tamil Nadu forest department's activities on elephant care management got global attention through this documentary.
There are 91 elephant caretakers working at its two elephant camps at Theppakkad in Mudumalai and at Kozhikamuthi Elephant Camp in Anaimalai in Tamil Nadu.
"To mark this occasion, the Chief Minister announced a grant of Rs.1.00 lakh each to all 91 Mahouts and Cavadis from the Chief Minister's Public Relief Fund", an official release said.
The Chief Minister also announced a financial assistance of Rs 9.10 crore for construction of eco-friendly and culturally compatible houses for all the 91 elephant care takers.
Further, the Stte Government also announced sanction of Rs.five crores towards improvement of the Kozhikamuthi Elephant Camp at Anaimalai Tiger Reserve.
The Government also announced setting up of a new elephant camp at Sadivyal in Coimbatore District with necessary facilities for maintenance of elephants at a cost of Rs.eight crore, the release said.
During the visit of the Chief Minister to The Nilgiris in 2022, he had announced setting up of a state-of-the-art Elephant Conservation Center and Eco Complex at Theppakkadu Elephant Camp in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve.
A detailed project report has been prepared in this regard to move forward on the proposal, the release said. (UNI)
