World Elephant Day: Tamil Nadu’s Malasar tribesmen honoured with first Gaj Gaurav Award

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<strong>Today as the world celebrates World Elephant Day, it is very special for the tribals of Anamalai hills, Tamil Nadu – the Malasar – as they have chosen for the first Gaj Gaurav Award.</strong></p>
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The award has been instituted by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change.</p>
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The presentation of the award will take place today to the mahouts (elephant men) and cavadis (assistants) from the Malasar tribal community in Coimbatore district at a function at the Periyar Elephant Reserve, Kerala on WED. These tribals are known to work for the Forest Department as elephant men.</p>
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Very proud moment for us as the Mahouts and Cavadys of Malasar Tribal community in Anamalai Tiger Reserve, Tamil<br />
Nadu" have won the National 'Gaj Gaurav'Award on the eve of The World Elephant Day. We salute them for their service 🫡 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TNForest?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TNForest</a> <a href="https://t.co/AewwosKhPc">pic.twitter.com/AewwosKhPc</a></p>
— Supriya Sahu IAS (@supriyasahuias) <a href="https://twitter.com/supriyasahuias/status/1557727592656302086?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 11, 2022</a></blockquote>
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The mahouts and cavadis of the Malasar tribe community chosen for the award are working in Pollachi Forest Division’s Kozhikamuthy and Varagaliar elephant camps in the Anamalai Tiger Reserve.</p>
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Gaj Gaurav is presented as recognition of good practices adopted by captive elephant owners and outstanding works done by field officers, frontline staff and private custodians in elephant conservation.</p>
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World Elephant Day, to wishes everyone involved in the protection and conservation of elephants.<br />
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ಆನೆಗಳು ಸಂರಕ್ಷಣೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ತೊಡಗಿರುವ ಎಲ್ಲರಿಗೂ ವಿಶ್ವ ಆನೆಗಳ ದಿನದ ಶುಭಾಶಯಗಳು. <a href="https://t.co/TIrCItuoEh">pic.twitter.com/TIrCItuoEh</a></p>
— Pralhad Joshi (@JoshiPralhad) <a href="https://twitter.com/JoshiPralhad/status/1557929080753770496?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 12, 2022</a></blockquote>
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At present there are 120 Malasar families in Kozhikamuthy settlement and areas around it and men of this community work for the Forest Department and assist in capturing, taming and taking care of elephants. The two camps have 26 camp elephants including kumkis or male elephants trained for special operations.</p>