Palanichamy Sarathkumar is a forest guard stationed near Mettupalayam, a small forested city 32 miles (50 km) from the beautiful hill station Ooty. On December 12, 2017, Palanichamy had just finished his night shift at his headquarters when he received a call about a female elephant blocking the road close to the Vanabhadra Kaliamman temple. Little did he know that this call would lead to an unforgettable encounter that would earn him national recognition.
Palanichamy and his colleagues set off a few firecrackers to guide the elephant back into the forest. Once the female elephant had left, they continued to search for other elephants nearby. That’s when they stumbled upon a baby elephant stuck inside a small ditch. The little elephant was confused and tired, and the ditch was making it feel suffocated. Palanichamy and his colleagues pulled a rock out of the ditch that was blocking the elephant’s exit.
He placed the baby near a waterhole and hoped that the mother would return and locate her child. They waited for hours, but the mother did not come. They all went back after a while and hoped that the mother would return. The next morning, they returned and found the calf missing. The calf left its mark next to the larger pugmarks of a bigger elephant. Palanichamy believes they left before dawn after being reunited.
Palanichamy’s act of kindness and bravery did not go unnoticed. The story of the man who carried an elephant on his shoulders spread like wildfire, and soon he became a national hero. Many people were amazed by Palanichamy’s strength and courage to carry such a heavy creature on his shoulders.
Despite the elephant’s cute appearance, it was heavier than Palanichamy, weighing in at more than 100kg. It was no easy feat to lift the baby elephant and carry it on his shoulders, but Palanichamy did it with ease. His strength and bravery in the face of danger have earned him respect and admiration from people all over the world.
Groups of elephants, or herds, follow a matriarchal structure with the eldest female in charge. Herds are composed of primarily female family members and young calves, according to the San Diego Zoo, and include 6 to 20 members depending on the food supply. When the family gets too large, herds often split into smaller groups that stay within the same area.
The matriarch relies on her experience and memory to recall where the best spots for food and water are, as well as where to find protection from the elements. The matriarch is also responsible for teaching the younger members of her family how to socialize with other elephants. Palanichamy’s act of kindness in rescuing the baby elephant and reuniting it with its mother shows that humans can coexist with wild animals and respect their natural habitats.
In conclusion, Palanichamy Sarathkumar’s story is a testament to the strength of the human spirit and the kindness that exists in the world. His act of bravery and kindness has earned him recognition and respect, and serves as an inspiration to people all over the world. The story of the man who carried an elephant on his shoulders has captured the hearts of many, and reminds us all to respect and protect the natural world and its inhabitants.
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