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Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin connected Monday (October 6, 2025) inaugurated the second dedicated colony for mahouts astatine the Kozhikamuthi Elephant Camp successful the Anamalai Tiger Reserve.
According to an authoritative release, the colony has been developed astatine a outgo of ₹5.4 crore and comprises 47 unit quarters for mahouts and elephant caretakers. It follows the constitution of India’s archetypal mahout colony astatine Theppakadu successful the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve earlier this year. Mr. Stalin inaugurated the colony virtually.
Kozhikamuthi, 1 of the country’s oldest elephant camps, presently houses 24 elephants nether the attraction of tribal mahouts who person inherited generations of accepted knowledge. The campy has been upgraded with modern amenities, including an elephant viewing assemblage and a visitant walkway, the merchandise said.
A notable summation is simply a solar-powered microgrid with artillery storage, acceptable up by the State Planning Commission astatine a outgo of ₹3.5 crore. The strategy — comprising a 124 kWp star plant, 516 kWh artillery bank, and a 100 kW inverter — ensures uninterrupted, eco-friendly powerfulness proviso to the campy and mahout households, adjacent during cloudy oregon rainy weather.
The merchandise added the State authorities has amended work rules to let nonstop recruitment of kavadis from indigenous communities, safeguarding accepted expertise and integrating it with modern elephant absorption practices.
Senior officials including Supriya Sahu, Additional Chief Secretary to Departments of Environment and Forests, and Srinivas R. Reddy, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Head of Forest Force) were contiguous astatine the inauguration.
