Love for elephants changed their life

Three school children from the Nilgiris made honorary eco ambassadors

Three local school children from Devala in the Nilgiris were appointed as Gene Pool Eco Park ambassadors after they raised funds to purchase rice to feed four kumki elephants used in elephant-driving operations in the region.

The children, Sandeesh Kumar and Nagulan, studying in Class VIII in Holy Cross School in Devala and Sanjay, a Class VII student from the Government Tribal Residential School in Devala, had heard of the kumki elephants’ presence in the area for the last few weeks. Forest department officials said that the boys along with other locals had already visited the Gene Pool Eco Development Committee during the Vinayaka Chaturthi celebrations this year when the four kumkis were treated to fruits and vegetables.

“The three boys then got together and pooled the pocket money that they had collected and purchased a 25 kg. bag of rice for the elephants,” said a forest official from Nadugani Forest Range.