Column | Elephants always have right of way

A few months ago, Kumar, who lives on my farm in Kodaikanal, shared a piece of news that I have held close to my heart, letting it warm me every time I needed it. A mother and her baby elephant walked onto the farm in the middle of the day, where she fed her infant till the child fell asleep.

A beautiful little story that casually assumes the many years it took to gain the trust of a mother elephant to allow her child to fall asleep in human-occupied land. She was teaching her baby that the farm was a safe space. In a fast-changing world, where elephants are being forced to change their ancient migratory routes because of human development, it felt like a milestone.

Elephants in Kerala | Photo Credit: K.K.NAJEEB