World Elephant Day

Elephants continue to be symbolic in multiple ways in Indian culture, whether it be because of the legends that compare them to Lord Ganesha or because of their historical importance as a result of their military prowess. There have been numerous mannered portrayals of the need to preserve the animal, from the renowned Bollywood film 'Haathi mere Saathi' to the current Oscar-winning 'The Elephant Whisperers'.  Apart from that, World Elephant Day is observed every year on 12 August to celebrate these creatures.

World Elephant Day  |  Source: Current Affairs

In Tamil Nadu's Mudumalai forest, an elephant calf namedRaghu became lost in the wild. The lush green surroundings were unable to comfort him, perhaps because the pain of being separated from his herd was unbearable for the infant, who is otherwise known as a social animal. After his mother was electrocuted to death, he was left an orphan. Before being brought to Bomman and Bellie, the native couple who are elephant carers, the forest department in Tamil Nadu had little hope for the survival of this suffering calf.

Theppakadu Elephant Camp employees, Bommanand Bellie, a tribal couple, went above and beyond to care for Raghu. He was cared for as if he were their child. The couple showed their unconditional affection by bathing him and feeding him nutritious food. Raghu, on the other hand, soon found comfort in their company and started showing mutual emotions of belonging and love.

It was The Elephant Whisperers, a documentary by Kartiki Gonsalves, that depicted the endearing bond between a couple and an elephant calf. The film depicts what a delight it is for animals and people to live together. It also touches on the humane side of animals, revealing their ability to experience warmth and love. At the same time, the short film does not hide the growing conflict between humans and animals.

The documentary captures the audience's attention with the special and emotional shared spaces between nature and humans, and it ends on a positive note. Raghucame across as one of the main characters who was raised in a safe environment while being constantly looked after by Bellie and Bomman. The short film was awarded the Best Documentary Short Film Oscar, and rightly so.

The film's humanistic portrayal merits a second mention in light of World Elephant Day, which is observed every year on August 12. The day serves as a reminder of the need to preserve and protect elephants, whose numbers are rapidly declining. It also draws attention to how poorly people treat these enormous yet compassionate creatures as a result of the illegal ivory trade, which leads to poaching and captivity. The Elephant Reintroduction Foundation of Thailand and Canadian award-winning filmmaker Patricia Sims laid the groundwork for the day, which was first observed in 2012.

World Elephant Day is an appeal for people worldwide to work together to protect this gigantic yet incredible animal, not only for its ecological benefits but also for its right to live in the wild.

Patricia Sims, World Elephant Day Co-founder, says,

"World Elephant Day is a rallying call for people to support organisations that are working to stop the illegal poaching and trade of elephant ivory and other wildlife products, protect wild elephant habitats, and provide sanctuaries and alternative habitats for domestic elephants to live freely."

The day is significant for India as well, and even more so because it is home to a sizable percentage of Asian elephants—roughly sixty per cent—in its eastern and southern regions. In India, elephants are not only a cultural symbol but also have immense environmental significance. It's appropriate to mention The Elephant Whisperers in this context because it beautifully depicts the cordial relationship between humans and animals.

With the help of the Oscar-winning short film, there should be a rise in public sentiment in favour of elephant conservation and opposition to any illegal trade of these docile animals. If various species can coexist in perfect harmony, the world will be a better place.