Inside Kaziranga’s Big Learning Week: How Mahouts Sharpened Skills for a Safer Future

A four-day training and skill enhancement workshop for mahouts and elephant handlers concluded this week at the Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve, marking a significant step toward strengthening elephant care and improving human–animal synergy inside the UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Held from November 16 to 19 at Kohora’s Mihimukh area, the workshop brought together diverse voices from the field — from veteran mahouts to some of India’s leading wildlife experts. Organised by the Kaziranga Park authorities, the initiative focused on sharpening practical skills, improving welfare standards for captive elephants and equipping the traditional workforce with updated knowledge rooted in science and field experience.

Around 200 mahouts and ghasis, representing both the Forest Department and private elephant owners, took part in the training. The timing of the workshop was deliberately planned so that routine elephant care remained uninterrupted. Participants also received uniforms and winter gear — a gesture that many mahouts said reflected the park authority’s growing emphasis on their welfare as frontline conservation workers.

Hands-on Learning, Real-World Problems

The workshop’s agenda blended classroom sessions with hands-on demonstrations. Renowned resource persons such as elephant expert Bhupendra Nath Talukdar, veterinarians Dr. Bhaskar Choudhury, Dr. Saurabh Borgohain, and Dr. Bishwajit Barua led the technical discussions. Field demonstrations were carried out by experienced mahouts Kiran Rabha and Kasem Ali, giving participants a practical view of techniques used in elephant care.

Over the four days, mahouts engaged with a wide range of topics:

• Elephant biology, ageing, and natural behaviour in wild and captive habitats

• Social structure, handling of calves, pregnancy and birthing care

• Early detection of musth, disease prevention, first aid and personal hygiene

• Feeding patterns, nutritional planning and seasonal management

• Thermoregulation, bathing routines, skin and foot care — including live nail-trimming demos

• Safe handling of ropes, harnesses and other field equipment

A Platform for Dialogue

Beyond the lectures, open forums allowed mahouts to share their field experiences — from navigating foot injuries to understanding shifting behavioural patterns during tourist seasons. Park officials and experts addressed challenges in captive elephant management and discussed how emerging conservation demands are reshaping the role of mahouts.

Many participants said the dialogue helped bridge traditional knowledge with modern wildlife science, creating a more collaborative learning atmosphere.

Strengthening Kaziranga’s Conservation Backbone

Kaziranga’s authorities say such workshops are essential for improving field capacity, especially in a park where elephants play vital roles in patrolling, rescue operations and tourism. Better-trained mahouts, officials said, not only ensure safer handling of elephants but also contribute to elevated standards of conservation and visitor management.

The workshop wrapped up with acknowledgements to the mahouts and experts whose daily work — often unseen by visitors — forms the backbone of elephant welfare and conservation in Kaziranga.

With growing tourist footfall and increasing responsibilities for the park’s working elephants, initiatives like this workshop signal Kaziranga’s commitment to raising the bar for animal care and professional skill development.

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