Monomania - an inordinate or obsessive zeal for or interest in a single thing, idea, subject, or the like
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| Nagarhole National Park Karnataka |
Guess I am fast turning a monomaniac when it comes to admiring elephants. I haven't yet had a personal interaction with one nor befriended one, hence I refrain from terming it love. Reserving it for those good times to come. Nevertheless, this feeling that has proliferated in me is no less. At least, I feel so.
The more I read about them, the more captivated I am. They are arguably the only living giants on the land (may be, barring the rhinos). An elephant's brain has 1800 times more neuron connections as that of the human brain. Now, that's a sneak peak into why they are as smart as they are! The herd system and their bonding is in many ways similar to the emotional connection between human beings. And they are forever willing to accommodate and coexist with us, more so forging a memorable bond, if only we incline to understand them. Above all, the planet looks ton times more beautiful with they walking across. I will go on and on about this in the coming days. Meantime, here is a quick list of interesting reads for any nature/wildlife/elephant lover. If you have more content on this subject that you'd like to point me to, please leave a comment.
1. Elephant Doctor - True story of the life of an amazing wildlife vet and the love between him and his elephants. What more, he is our own man! An Indian world famous in the wildlife circles
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/the-elephant-men-interview-filmmaker-harry-marshall/3325/https://www.jeyamohan.in/12433
https://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/mp/2002/07/22/stories/2002072200010100.htm
https://www.thehindu.com/mag/2003/07/20/stories/2003072000260400.htm
2. Whispers from the wild - Real life accounts of South India's renowned conservationist ERC Davidar edited by Priya Davidar. The man who made his own property a wildlife haven, to save the traditional elephant migration route in the Nilgiris! Read the book, you will be glad you did.
3. Elephants never forget - on Mark Davidar and his elephants
http://scribol.com/environment/animals-environment/elephants-never-forget-the-touching-legacy-of-tamil-nadu-conservationist-mark-davidar/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KScQhmBBhCc
4. Elephant Whisperer - True story of how one man Lawrence Anthony, driven just by love, without any training, saved a herd of African wild elephants from being shot down and transformed them into one of the most well behaved herds. And how astonishingly did the herd reciprocate their love for him! Read the book, for a life changing experience.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4nvQbfQAUg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLm8McHysAA
5. To the Elephant graveyard - Tarquin Hall - True story of how one innocent elephant turned rogue in Assam and paid the price of a human's ill treatment with its own life. Amazing read, to understand how, in most of the circumstances humans are the reason behind wild animals turning rogue.
6. Understanding Elephants - How do they deal with sorrow, how human developments have adversely affected their life and centuries old migration paths and what can we do to reverse the decline
https://www.facebook.com/NewsfirstSL/videos/241254399848068/UzpfSTEwMDAwMTExNDE4ODUzMzoxODQ0MjQxNTUyMjg5NjMz/?notif_id=1537426041872677¬if_t=feedback_reaction_generichttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FR2PrYhaCVk
http://www.sanctuaryasia.com/conservation/news/10110-wildlife-laws-violated-elephant-corridor-blocked-in-kaziranga-landscape.html
https://www.thebetterindia.com/110834/tenzing-bodosa-worlds-first-elephant-friendly-farm-assam/
http://www.kans.org.in/
https://www.sigurnaturetrust.org/
https://www.saveelephant.org/
https://elephantfriendlytea.com/
7. Giant Hearts - Edited by Jean-Philippe Puyravaud and Priya Davidar- A collection of real life experiences from a bunch of elephant lovers from varied backgrounds - conservationists, writers, biologists it is a great read on how these magnanimous beasts have transformed the lives of any one who has been open and observant of them
8. The Vanishing - Prerna Singh Bindra - A must read, to know the plight of India's forests and wildlife in the post-liberalization era. Loaded with factual information, each chapter takes its time to sink in. The chapter Failing our Gods is exclusively on elephants, though the book raises its voice for our country's biodiversity collectively.
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| Parambikulam Tiger Reserve Kerala |
As I frantically look for more and more content about them, one thing is almost certain. Interacting with this remarkable beast and personally getting to know one deeper is steadily becoming one of the top few goals of my life. Working in whatever small way possible to safeguard their left over habitat, the next. For now, the search and wait for one such opportunity continues...As I sit down to edit this post, its pouring outside ... and I imagine Marudhu, Azhagi and their herd enjoying the rain in silence, in the forests of Mudumalai, Bandipur or Anamalai or anywhere else...They have graciously let me be in their company, just about a few hundred yards away from them. Life, at that one magical moment, feels well lived. Marudhu and Azhagi are the names of my imaginary pachyderm friends.
PC: Kalirajan Subramanian
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