Elephant riding : where to get a proper education ?

Cameleer · Sep 10th, 2007, 01:36

Check with Christine Townend at Help N Suffering, she is the one that I corresponded with via email about the elephants in Jaipur. I believe she is also the one that started the origination Help N Suffering.

Here is a photo of some of the gifts given to me by the Mahouts in Jaipur.

Khandoma · Sep 27th, 2007, 17:54

Cameleer, many, many thanks for the info and the great picture. Sorry for a very belated answer, was away on a 2-week assignment in Poland. (Not too many elephants there... ) I will definitely get in touch with the contact you gave me. Thanks much.

palmlandtours.net · Sep 27th, 2007, 18:14

The elephant welfare association based in Trichur conducts mahout training courses in Kerala. In Kerala, elephants 'speak' Malayalam. I would recommend to find a calm elephant (each elephant has its own personality) with good history, suitable for you travel, learn his behaviour and language and get familiar with him / her. Training from mahout training centre would be helpful in some situations.

Khandoma · Sep 27th, 2007, 18:48

Thanks a lot Suresh,

Do you know for a fact that these classes are still going on ? I know that this association held two three-month classes, in 1995 and 1996 respectively, but I haven't been able to find out whether these classes were still happening. Or whether they would be open to non-Indian women. I contacted elephantcare.org last year, got no answer. Will try again.

That course would be exactly what I'm looking for.

And I like what you say about the elephant's personality. I was lucky enough in Nepal, 'my' elephant had a smooth and brave temper, tainted only by a sense of humour that was often at my expense. (How do you climb on an elephant who finds hilarious to see you fall ?) But since I'm not too serious myself, we hit it off perfectly. I will look for these qualities again. And learning enough Malayalam to ride an elephant will probably help me in everyday life anyway, so I'm all for it.
Thanks much !

birds · Sep 27th, 2007, 19:05

If I remember well (

), there is a small elephant camp in Karnataka that offers courses. I can not remember the place or name but it was not too far from the largest Tibetan settlement in South India, somewhere around Madikeri, I think.

I see if I can dig up the details this evening and will let you know if I find them.

Khandoma · Sep 27th, 2007, 19:47

That would be so cool !

Thanks a lot, birds !

palmlandtours.net · Sep 27th, 2007, 20:10

I spoke to Dr. K. C. Panicker, Secretary, Elephant welfare Association. There are no plans to have courses in the near future. But, it is possible to give you training by mahouts. If interested, I could email his contact details.

Khandoma · Sep 27th, 2007, 20:16

Wow ! Amazingly nice of you to have taken the trouble !

I would be very grateful if you could send the contact details by PM.

Many thanks indeed.

birds · Sep 27th, 2007, 20:37

Well it sounds like PalmLandTours is having a great contact for you.

I checked on that elephant camp but I think it is too touristy for your purpose but you might be able to make some sort of arrangement with them to learn. The website is: http://www.nivalink.com/dubare/index.html

Lots of pix of the campsite are on: http://www.my-kannada.com/tour/dubar...mp/index.shtml

Can't tell you whether they are any good since the last weeks my internet connection is too poor to load photos.

.

palmlandtours.net · Sep 27th, 2007, 20:43

I have sent the contact details by PM.

Khandoma · Sep 27th, 2007, 21:11

Palmlandtours, received your PM and replied, many thanks.

Birds, that's precious, I'm exploring every alley at this point. Thanks much for taking the trouble to unearth this info. And the pictures are all right !

Sep 10th, 2007, 01:36	#16
Cameleer Camel Master Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: California Posts: 197	Check with Christine Townend at Help N Suffering, she is the one that I corresponded with via email about the elephants in Jaipur. I believe she is also the one that started the origination Help N Suffering. Here is a photo of some of the gifts given to me by the Mahouts in Jaipur. Attached Thumbnails

Sep 27th, 2007, 17:54	#17
Khandoma Gourmet Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Paris Posts: 320	Cameleer, many, many thanks for the info and the great picture. Sorry for a very belated answer, was away on a 2-week assignment in Poland. (Not too many elephants there... ) I will definitely get in touch with the contact you gave me. Thanks much. __________________ Khandoma Visit my India photo gallery on IndiaMike

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Sep 27th, 2007, 18:14	#18
palmlandtours.net Account Closed - Travel Agent Join Date: May 2005 Location: Trichur, Kerala, India Posts: 130	The elephant welfare association based in Trichur conducts mahout training courses in Kerala. In Kerala, elephants 'speak' Malayalam. I would recommend to find a calm elephant (each elephant has its own personality) with good history, suitable for you travel, learn his behaviour and language and get familiar with him / her. Training from mahout training centre would be helpful in some situations.

Sep 27th, 2007, 18:48	#19
Khandoma Gourmet Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Paris Posts: 320	Thanks a lot Suresh, Do you know for a fact that these classes are still going on ? I know that this association held two three-month classes, in 1995 and 1996 respectively, but I haven't been able to find out whether these classes were still happening. Or whether they would be open to non-Indian women. I contacted elephantcare.org last year, got no answer. Will try again. That course would be exactly what I'm looking for. And I like what you say about the elephant's personality. I was lucky enough in Nepal, 'my' elephant had a smooth and brave temper, tainted only by a sense of humour that was often at my expense. (How do you climb on an elephant who finds hilarious to see you fall ?) But since I'm not too serious myself, we hit it off perfectly. I will look for these qualities again. And learning enough Malayalam to ride an elephant will probably help me in everyday life anyway, so I'm all for it. Thanks much !

Sep 27th, 2007, 19:05	#20
birds Adopt a stray Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Goa Posts: 521	If I remember well ( ), there is a small elephant camp in Karnataka that offers courses. I can not remember the place or name but it was not too far from the largest Tibetan settlement in South India, somewhere around Madikeri, I think. I see if I can dig up the details this evening and will let you know if I find them.

Sep 27th, 2007, 19:47	#21
Khandoma Gourmet Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Paris Posts: 320	That would be so cool ! Thanks a lot, birds !

Sep 27th, 2007, 20:10	#22
palmlandtours.net Account Closed - Travel Agent Join Date: May 2005 Location: Trichur, Kerala, India Posts: 130	I spoke to Dr. K. C. Panicker, Secretary, Elephant welfare Association. There are no plans to have courses in the near future. But, it is possible to give you training by mahouts. If interested, I could email his contact details.

Sep 27th, 2007, 20:16	#23
Khandoma Gourmet Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Paris Posts: 320	Wow ! Amazingly nice of you to have taken the trouble ! I would be very grateful if you could send the contact details by PM. Many thanks indeed.

Sep 27th, 2007, 20:37	#24
birds Adopt a stray Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Goa Posts: 521	Well it sounds like PalmLandTours is having a great contact for you. I checked on that elephant camp but I think it is too touristy for your purpose but you might be able to make some sort of arrangement with them to learn. The website is: http://www.nivalink.com/dubare/index.html Lots of pix of the campsite are on: http://www.my-kannada.com/tour/dubar...mp/index.shtml Can't tell you whether they are any good since the last weeks my internet connection is too poor to load photos. .

Sep 27th, 2007, 20:43	#25
palmlandtours.net Account Closed - Travel Agent Join Date: May 2005 Location: Trichur, Kerala, India Posts: 130	I have sent the contact details by PM.

Sep 27th, 2007, 21:11	#26
Khandoma Gourmet Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Paris Posts: 320	Palmlandtours, received your PM and replied, many thanks. Birds, that's precious, I'm exploring every alley at this point. Thanks much for taking the trouble to unearth this info. And the pictures are all right !

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