Kozhikamuthi Elephant Camp, Topslip, Annamalai Tiger Reserve

Kozhikamuthi Elephant Camp

Topslip, Annamalai Tiger Reserve, Tamil Nadu

Also see: FAM Trip of Tamil Nadu 2022

News of wild elephants going on rampage in agricultural fields and attacking humans are quiet common in different parts of India.

Kozhikamuthi Elephant Camp, Topslip, Annamalai Tiger Reserve

No wonder with the increasing human population the wild elephants are losing their ground. They often make inroads into human settlements resulting into man-animal conflict.

Wild Boars, Topslip, Annamalai Tiger Reserve

To control these rogue elephants specially trained elephants are needed. There are a few camps across the country where these elephants are trained.

Kozhikamuthi Elephant Camp (Google map location) located deep inside the Annamalai Tiger Reserve, Tamil Nadu is one such camp .

The members of the Malasar tribe have expertise knowledge in capturing, taming and handling wild elephants. The elephants of this camp have made journeys to different parts of the country to capture and tame rogue elephants.

Deer, Peacock and Wild Boars in Annamalai Tiger Reserve

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Kumkis are trained male tuskers who carry out the capture operations. These captured animals are often brought back to the Kozhikamuthi Elephant Camp and are trained and the cycle continues.

Nilgiri Langur, Topslip, Annamalai Tiger Reserve

The Kozhikamuthi Elephant Camp presently houses 26 elephants. The star attraction is Kaleem a 56 year old Kumki, who has helped capture more than 25 wild elephants in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala over the past 20 years.

The Kozhikamuthi Elephant Camp is explored from Topslip (Google map location) a tourist complex located deep inside the tiger reserve. Run by the forest visitor needs a permit to enter Topslip.

It stands majestically at the base of lush green hills and is surrounded by enchanting forest. Wild boars, monkeys, peacocks and deer roam right in front of the forest lodges of Topslip.

Elephants at Kozhikamuthi Elephant Camp, Annamalai Tiger Reserve

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The elephant camp is located about half an hour drive from Topslip and one can encountered various wildlife during this short jeep ride and may even including sighting of Nilgiri Langur, a monkey endemic to the southern regions of western Ghats.

A tourist poses with an elephant at Kozhikamuthi Elephant Camp

The day in the elephant camp starts early and begins with a bath at the nearby stream.

Next is breakfast time and the elephants are fed with large dough of millet, rice, jiggery and coconut. Each elephant has a customized diet.

The tourists are welcome during the morning hours only to witness the activities of the elephant.

Under the supervision of the mahuts they can even interact with the elephants and click photos and selfies.

Elephants being feed at Kozhikamuthi Elephant Camp, Annamalai Tiger Reserve

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After the breakfast tourist leave the camp so does the elephants. The elephants are taken to the forest for grazing. They return after 8 hours in the evening. The evening meal consists of cut fodder, however this happens in the absence of tourist.

Elephants having a bath at Kozhikamuthi Elephant Camp, Annamalai Tiger Reserve

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Note:

By The Riverside Resort

• This blog post is part of a FAM Trip of Tamil Nadu 2022 organized by Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation (TTDC)
• Also do check up my publication at My Kolkata

Special thanks to Pravin Shanmughanandam of Polachi Papyrus for:

• Taking us in and around the Kozhikamuthi Elephant Camp
• Hosting us in his amazing property By The Riverside (Google map location) at Sethumadai.
• Driving us to a couple of nearby small waterfalls and a sunset view point
• Guided us along a wild life trail to spot wildlife

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