“They say an elephant never forgets. What they don’t tell you is, you never forget an elephant.” – Bill Murray.

The wisdom of elephants, our gentle giants can take humans by surprise. Elephants posses a few human like traits. A deep sense of empathy, superior intelligence and community bonds (lead by the matriarch); an integral part of their being. Unfortunately, humans are transgressing from these traits.

Keepers of the Forest

During a visit to a well-known national park, I chance upon Ganga, a patrolling elephant. Named after the river Ganga, this 40 year-young lady, has the sweetest disposition.

I meet her every evening, after our jungle safaris. She returns around that time too, from a long day of patrolling. She patrols the forest for poachers and miscreants, along with her mahoot*. And even doubles up as a wildlife emergency detector.

Ganga’s mammoth presence is soft and comforting. I offer her crunchy saal leaves and branches, and she happily accepts them. She also allows me to stroke her.

She is always chained and kept in an open enclosure, next to another elephant. I notice a sadness in those huge pool of eyes.

Wondering what she has to say about her life, I start talking to her one evening.

“How does it feel to be held captive, while your brethren roam free in the same forest, Ganga?“

Ganga seems glad we are talking, and is more than willing to share.

“I would love to roam around the forests unbridled, without these chains. That wasn’t to be. You see I’m the chosen one, assisting humans keep these forests safe. One among the many jungle keepers of this ecosystem.“

“Call it my life purpose, if you will,” she declares quietly.

My eyes well up. Ganga carries much hope amidst, the pain.

She has accepted her her fate with immense grace, and expresses honour for the work entrusted upon her. It is evident, though that she would have liked being part of her herd, wandering free.

As we continue to make progress in every filed, I hope someday mankind finds advanced, alternative techniques to patrol the forests, minus the need to chain and break the elephants. May they all be given a chance to wander, and be free.

Feature Image: Jungsuk Lee

*Mahout – A professional elephant keeper/handler and trainer who forms a life long bond with a domesticated elephant.

Side note:

Elephant rides are being slowly banned, thanks to some serious activism. Elephants used in temples may also be replaced with robotic elephants. A temple in South India, has already adopted this.

In India we worship the elephant headed God, Ganesha. Yet, there are far from many incidents where they have to meet a brutal fate. As the forest covers deplete, elephant-human conflict has become a real challenge. So are the incidents of elephants lost to train accidents etc.

My friends, Annette Hadway and Ramya, host elephant hour every month, where we have the most insightful conversations telepathically with elephants from across the world.

“There is no creature among all the Beasts of the world which hath so great and ample demonstration of the power and wisdom of Almighty God as the Elephant.”

– Edward Topsell

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I am participating in the April Blogging from A to Z Challenge 2026, and my theme is Nature’s Voice – Notes from Nature.

As a Telepathic Animal & Nature Communicator, and an avid nature lover, I receive plenty of messages and downloads from the animal and plant world, landscapes, water bodies, as well as aquatic life. I shall take you through a fascinating journey, where we shall connect and communicate with all things non-human, but as a humans. Together, we shall also appreciate nature’s offerings.

Telepathic Animal & Nature communication is an intuitive, two way exchange of information through words, emotions, feelings and images between humans and other species/nature. This transcends the barrier of a verbal dialogue and language, helping humans understand animals, nature (trees, landscapes, water bodies) and foster deeper connections. A professional Animal and Nature communicator is also known as an Animal and Nature Whisperer.