PM Modi calls on 'Elephant Whisperers' Bomman and Bellie

COIMBATORE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday met Bomman and Bellie, the couple featured in the Oscar-winning documentary ‘The Elephant Whisperers’ at Theppakadu Elephant Camp in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve.

Modi was accorded a ‘trumpeting’ welcome by the 22-odd captive elephants lined up at the camp as he arrived by road from Bandipur Tiger Reserve (BTR) in Karnataka around 10.30 am.

Clad in a khaki shirt, pants and a hat, the Prime Minister interacted with mahouts and kavadis as well as with Bomman and Bellie, who then introduced him to orphaned elephant calves ‘Raghu’ and ‘Bommi’ raised by them. He lavishly appreciated the couple and posed for photos.

As the couple spoke in Tamil, Supriya Sahu, Additional Chief Secretary, Environment Climate Change and Forests, translated it for the PM, who also invited them to Delhi. He then fed sugarcane to the captive elephants and met the team of anti-poaching watchers.

“The PM appreciated us for taking good care of calves Raghu and Bommi. As he asked us how we raised them, we told him that we cared for them like our children despite our struggles,” said Bellie. The PM also asked them if they needed any help.

BJP cadres and villagers had gathered en route the camp dancing and playing tribal musical instruments to welcome the PM.