Kumki (elephant)

Kumki or Koomkie (also known as Thāppāna in Malayalam) is a term used in India for trained captive Asian elephants used in operations to trap wild elephants, sometimes to rescue or to provide medical treatment to an injured or trapped wild elephant.[1] Kumkis are used for capturing, calming and herding wild elephants or to lead wild elephants away in conflict situations.[2] In such cases the training process aims at preserving some of the wild dominant character in them, so that they can control wild elephants by force if necessary. When wild elephants enter human settlements and kumkis are used to drive them away, sometimes direct physical contact might not be needed since the territorial behaviour is aided by scent and other communication between animals.

Two kumkis with their mahouts

Etymology

The word is derived from Persian kumak which means "aid" and is in wide usage from Bengal to Tamil Nadu by mahouts.[3][4]

Criticism by animal rights activists

Kumkis are not like the same elephants widely found in Indian temples. An elephant has to undergo extensive training before it can become a Kumki. Several animal activists have appealed against this training system.

Some movies related to kumki elephants have been released in the Tamil film industry, such as Kumki (2012).

References
  1. Kingsley, John Sterling, ed. (1884). The standard natural history. Mammals. Volume V. Boston: S.E. Cassino and Company. p. 219.
  2. Sastri, B.N., ed. (1952). "Elephant". The Wealth of India. Volume III: D-E. New Delhi: Council of Scientific and Industrial Research. pp. 143–149.
  3. Yule, Henry; Burnell, A.C. (1903). Crooke, William (ed.). Hobson-Jobson. London: John Murray. p. 251.
  4. Jardine, Sir William, ed. (1854). The Naturalist's Library. Mammalia. Volume XXIV. Edinburgh: W.H. Lizars. p. 113.


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