Meet the Mahouts

An explanation of the Mahout at MEF

A “Mahout” is the most important individual in an elephant’s life at MEF. A Mahout is generally recognized as the elephant’s keeper, but they are so much more than that. Doctor, teacher, trainer and friend are just some of the roles a Mahout plays in an elephant’s life. 

Like Pooja’s Mahout, Nuan, many men embark on the elephant-keeping business at a young age. Mahouts usually start out as boys in the family business. They are assigned a young elephant, then, they are attached to one another for the rest of their lives. Nuan has been working with Pooja when both were about the age of 13. Thirteen years later, and they are still attached at the hip. While 13 years may seem like a long time for someone to work with the same elephant day in and day out, some Mahout’s at MEF have been working with their assigned elephant for over 30 years. 

The hut where Mahouts live 24/7 near their elephants

MEF Mahouts are with their elephants from the moment they awake until the moment they fall asleep. They are involved in every aspect of their lives: bathing, eating, veterinary visits, exercising; the list goes on. Since Pooja is young, Nuan has the added responsibility of making sure Pooja is staying active and stimulated with extra enrichment and agility training. 

Volunteers explain that there are occasional disputes between Mahouts and workers at MEF. Volunteers and workers firmly believe an elephant should never be abused or mishandled in any way. They believe that verbal communication is the key to properly caring for and training an elephant. However Mahouts have been raised around the philosophy that although elephants are sacred and special creatures, they are used as working animals. Therefore when an elephant may be misbehaving, sometimes the Mahout may hit the elephant on the back to get their attention and correct the behavior. Although the Mahout’s deeply care for their elephants, they do not understand the “political correctness” of avoiding physical contact. 

No one can approach an elephant without its Mahout present

One of the first details I noticed when I arrived at MEF was that the elephants were kept in chains 24 hours a day. At first glance, one cannot help but question the ethics of an elephant orphanage keeping their elephants in chains. However when I asked the volunteers, they explained that the chains are actually quite humane. 

The chains act as a leash would act for a dog. With such a gentle demeanor, it is easy to forget just how massive, and dangerous, and elephants can be. Chains are the only leash that can hold an elephant. Elephants at MEF do not reject the chains. In fact, Raja even puts on his own chains each morning.

Scarring from the chains

The only time the chains can cause damage is when a male elephant is in musth. Musth is a condition when male elephants experience an increase in testosterone levels 60 times greater than normal. This causes extreme aggression in the elephant’s behavior, where sometimes they may try to rip off their chains. This can cause irritation, injury and scarring to their legs. 

As a result, MEF is in the process of purchasing cloth bands that would attach to the metal chains to go around the elephant’s feet.

 

Another questionable tool is the stick the Mahout carries and uses on his elephant. The stick is a long wooden object with a pointed hook and spear at the end. If used incorrectly, a Mahout could cause extreme pain to an elephant. 

A Mahout with his stick instructing his elephant

However the stick is only used to gently poke the elephant’s pressure points. An elephant possesses dozens of pressure points and the Mahout knows exactly what each one can do. This is how they control their elephant. If Mahouts want their elephants to switch over sides during a river bath, they can poke a certain part of their body and immediately, the elephant will roll over. 

Elephants can weigh over three tons; MEF wants individuals to know these tools are the only humane ways of caring for such a massive creature. The love and respect MEF and the Mahout’s have for their elephants is overwhelmingly apparent.