Linking elephants in distant jungles with lives of people in bustling Bengaluru Premium

“Elephants, as majestic symbols of our natural heritage, serve as a powerful lens through which to understand the broader implications of environmental conservation,” says Mathew George Sankaramangalam, one of the founding members of Friends of Elephants (FOE), a Bengaluru-based group that seeks to raise awareness among people about the world’s largest land animal.

“Elephants, as majestic symbols of our natural heritage, serve as a powerful lens through which to understand the broader implications of environmental conservation,” says Mathew George Sankaramangalam, one of the founding members of Friends of Elephants (FOE), a Bengaluru-based group that seeks to raise awareness among people about the world’s largest land animal.

The organisation, which turned 10 this year, prides itself on its work introducing urban people to the idea that the health of distant forests directly influences their own well-being. “Who would have thought that the fate of elephants, roaming freely in distant jungles, could be intertwined with the lives of city dwellers in bustling Bengaluru?” says the Bengaluru-based business person.

It began over a casual meeting at Cubbon Park exactly a decade ago. Six people from diverse backgrounds — an elephant researcher, a business person, a veterinarian, a doctor, and two photographers — connected by their love for elephants decided they wanted to do their bit towards elephant conservation. George still recalls the brainstorming that took place during that first meeting. “Different people came with different ideas,” he says. “We didn’t have a complete picture at that point in time.”

Slowly, the idea began to take shape. The team created a logo, opened social media accounts, and began organising open events focused on elephant awareness and conservation. At these events, which were held regularly every month at the Rangoli Metro Art Center at M.G. Road, numerous elephant experts, including scientists, photographers, researchers and officials, would address the public about issues related to conserving these animals whose lives are constantly threatened by human activities. 

“We noticed that there was a lot of information and opinions available on elephants, but not all of it was (backed by) knowledge. Information is not the same as knowledge,” says elephant scientist Surendra Varma, another founding member of the group. Varma, who worked at the Indian Institute of Science for several years, has always valued disseminating knowledge to a lay audience, so “we thought we should (use this forum to) introduce people to experts in this field.” 

At first, the platform drew researchers and students, people who knew something about wildlife, elephants or conservation, adds George. Slowly, laypeople with no expert knowledge but eager to learn more also started making their way to these events. “Every 4th Sunday, all of us would religiously assemble in the metro auditorium, and it became a happening place about all things related to elephant conservation,” he says.

According to him, they did not miss a single meeting until COVID-19, when they were forced to shift to an online format, which still continues to this day. “The event was locally sponsored, and many businesses went through a downturn post-COVID. “Our members felt that we should not stretch ourselves too much till we get a good number of sponsors again, so we continued online,” says George. “But we are now in the process of reviving those physical monthly meetings.”