Meenakshi, Balram, Shambhu. They have names like humans. But none of them are human. Each one is a government employee despite being non-human. However, it's not a nine-to-five job. Whenever needed, they are called upon. Like on October 5. Terrible natural disasters struck various parts of North Bengal. That's when they were called upon. They are kumki elephants.
Just as forest workers, civic volunteers, and NDRF personnel rushed to tackle the disaster, the kumki elephants too worked tirelessly day and night alongside them. Therefore, the forest department has decided to reward 10 kumki elephants this time. Along with them, their mahouts and patawallas will also be honored. There are various ways to reward humans. Sometimes checks are presented. Sometimes medals, scarves, and certificates are given as recognition. But elephants can't be given checks! So, what will their reward be?
The forest department has announced that the service records of those 10 kumki elephants from Jaldapara and Gorumara National Parks will document their significant contributions during disasters. This will ensure they receive additional comfort after retirement. This is the biggest reward of their lives. These 10 elephants are deserving of this reward. How? On October 5, the wooden bridge over the Holong River in Madarihat was swept away by floods. This was the only means of access to Jaldapara Tourism Lodge. With the bridge swept away, 28 tourists were stranded at the lodge. The kumki elephants of Jaldapara rescued eight of them by carrying them across waist-deep water.
That wasn't all. On October 5 itself, six rhinos, numerous Indian bison, deer, and wild boars were swept away by the overflowing Torsa River and took shelter in various localities of Mathabhanga-2 and Alipurduar-1 blocks in Cooch Behar. These kumki elephants were responsible for preventing conflicts between wildlife and humans. To fulfill their duties, they sometimes had to descend into ponds. Sometimes they had to risk their lives crossing several kilometers of slippery paths filled with silt and mud. There were days when they had nothing to eat except water and a few banana plants. Despite this, they worked like skilled employees during emergency situations.
Keeping all these contributions in mind, the forest department is going to give them special recognition. On Sunday in Alipurduar, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee rewarded eight government and semi-government employees with certificates and cash at a review meeting held at Neelpara Range in Hasimara. After that, the forest department decided to reward the non-humans as well. Bhaskar JV, Chief Wildlife Warden of North Bengal's Wildlife Division, says, "Maybe they are not humans. But no praise is sufficient for the way they have assisted us during disasters."
This is not the first time kumki elephants are being rewarded. In 2010, a herd of elephants entered Purulia and Bankura from Dalma Forest in Jharkhand and caused havoc. People died. Houses and crops were destroyed. To tackle the situation, Shambhu and Meenakshi were brought from North Bengal at that time. They skillfully drove the troublesome elephant herd out of the state. The forest department rewarded them for this work. It should be noted that besides Meenakshi, Shambhu, and Balram, Diana, Sundarmani, Joy, Najunda, Lakshman, Debangi, and Menaka will also be rewarded this time.
