The Kumkis are the custodians of the crop fields of Andhra Pradesh
The Forecast 1 year ago Andhra Pradesh
The forest department uses kumkis (trained elephants) as a strategic method to prevent herds of wild elephants from damaging crops in villages, especially in the south-western parts of Rayalaseema and the northern parts of Uttarandhra.
Two Kumkis, Jayant (67) and Vinayak (54) of the Andhra Pradesh Forest Department, have an enviable track record at Naniyala Forest Camp in Kaundinya Wildlife Sanctuary, between Palamaneru and Kuppam forest ranges in Chittoor district. Both have served the department for 17 years, completing nearly 200 operations against wild jumbos in the state.
Both receive considerable attention and care from department staff. Their main role is to repel elephants that threaten crops and engage in physical confrontation if necessary. When attacked, targeted elephants usually run away, but kumkis effectively reduce the threat. These kumkis helped solve such problems not only in Chittoor district but also in villages across the state.
Located at the tri-state junction of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, the Kuppam forest region experiences significant elephant migration. In 2006, the forest department set up the Naniyala elephant camp in the wake of elephants from neighboring states intruding into villages and damaging crops.
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