Kumki (elephant): Difference between revisions
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{{short description|Elephant trained to help with wild elephants}} |
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| ⚫ | '''Kumki''' or ''' |
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| ⚫ | '''Kumki''' ('''Koomkie''', '''Koonki''' or '''Kunki'''; known as '''Thāppāna''' in [[Malayalam]]) is a term used in India for trained captive [[Asian elephant]]s used in operations to trap wild elephants, sometimes to rescue or to provide medical treatment to an injured or trapped wild elephant.<ref>{{cite book |title=The standard natural history. Mammals. Volume V.|editor=Kingsley, John Sterling|year=1884 |place=Boston |publisher=S.E. Cassino and Company|url=https://archive.org/stream/standardnaturalh05king#page/219/mode/1up/|page=219}}</ref> Kumkis are used for capturing, calming and herding wild elephants or to lead wild elephants away in conflict situations.<ref>{{cite book|chapter=Elephant|pages=143–149 |title=The Wealth of India. Volume III: D-E. |year=1952 |publisher=Council of Scientific and Industrial Research|place=New Delhi|editor=Sastri, B.N. |chapter-url= https://archive.org/stream/in.ernet.dli.2015.101559/2015.101559.The-Wealth-Of-India-Col-3-D-To-E#page/n195/mode/2up/}}</ref> In such cases the training process aims at preserving some of the wild dominant character in them, so that they can control wild elephants by force if necessary. When wild elephants enter human settlements and kumkis are used to drive them away, sometimes direct physical contact might not be needed since the territorial behaviour is aided by scent and other communication between animals. |
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Kumkis are not the same elephants widely found in Indian temples. An elephant has to undergo extensive training before it can become a Kumki. Several animal activists have appealed against this training system. Many movies related to kumki elephants have been released in the Tamil film industry, such as ''[[Kumki (film)|Kumki]]'' (2012). |
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Some Koonki are particularly trained to follow the "foot commands" from their [[mahout]]s and to move silently during the entire [[Mela shikar#The method|capturing operation]].<ref name="cd">{{cite book|title=Practical Elephant Management - A Handbook for Mahouts|editor=Nibha Namboodiri|publisher=Elephant Welfare Association|date=July 1997|chapter=Elephant capturing in North-Eastern India by Parbati Baruah|url=http://www.elephantcare.org/manwild.htm#CAPTURING|accessdate=2009-08-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090720001902/http://www.elephantcare.org/manwild.htm#CAPTURING|archive-date=20 July 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref> |
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==Etymology== |
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The word is derived from Persian ''kumak'' which means "aid" and is in wide usage from Bengal to Tamil Nadu by mahouts.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/stream/hobsonjobsonagl02croogoog#page/n302/mode/1up/|page=251 |year=1903 |place=London |publisher=John Murray|title=Hobson-Jobson|author1=Yule, Henry |author2=Burnell, A.C.|editor=Crooke, William}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |url=https://archive.org/stream/b22031212#page/112/mode/2up/|page=113|title=The Naturalist's Library. Mammalia. Volume XXIV.|editor=Jardine, Sir William|place=Edinburgh|publisher=W.H. Lizars|year=1854}}</ref> |
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==Phandi commands== |
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Following are the commands that phandis use to drive an elephant.<ref name="xy">{{cite journal|last=Mitra|first=Naresh|author2=Ray, Achintyarup|date=2009-09-13|title=Caught in a trap|journal=The Times of India|publisher=Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd.|location=Kolkata|pages=13|url=http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Archive/skins/pastissues2/navigator.asp?login=default&AW=1252898431312|accessdate=2009-09-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090604145300/http://epaper.timesofindia.com/archive/skins/pastissues2/navigator.asp?login=default|archive-date=4 June 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref> |
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* '''''Agad :''''' Go forward |
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*'''''Pisoo/Pichoo :''''' Go backward. |
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*'''''Dhutt/Datt :''''' Stop |
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*'''''Beit :''''' Lie (on belly) |
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*'''''Tere :''''' Lie (on one side) |
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*'''''Meile/Mut :''''' Get up |
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==In popular culture== |
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Some movies related to kumki elephants have been released in the Tamil film industry, such as ''[[Kumki (film)|Kumki]]'' (2012). |
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==References== |
==References== |
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[[Category:Elephants in Indian culture]] |
[[Category:Elephants in Indian culture]] |
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{{India-culture-stub}} |
{{India-culture-stub}} |
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Latest revision as of 19:45, 27 December 2023
Kumki (Koomkie, Koonki or Kunki; known as Thāppāna in Malayalam) is a term used in India for trained captive Asian elephants used in operations to trap wild elephants, sometimes to rescue or to provide medical treatment to an injured or trapped wild elephant.[1] Kumkis are used for capturing, calming and herding wild elephants or to lead wild elephants away in conflict situations.[2] In such cases the training process aims at preserving some of the wild dominant character in them, so that they can control wild elephants by force if necessary. When wild elephants enter human settlements and kumkis are used to drive them away, sometimes direct physical contact might not be needed since the territorial behaviour is aided by scent and other communication between animals.
Some Koonki are particularly trained to follow the "foot commands" from their mahouts and to move silently during the entire capturing operation.[3]
Etymology
[edit]The word is derived from Persian kumak which means "aid" and is in wide usage from Bengal to Tamil Nadu by mahouts.[4][5]
Phandi commands
[edit]Following are the commands that phandis use to drive an elephant.[6]
- Agad : Go forward
- Pisoo/Pichoo : Go backward.
- Dhutt/Datt : Stop
- Beit : Lie (on belly)
- Tere : Lie (on one side)
- Meile/Mut : Get up
In popular culture
[edit]Some movies related to kumki elephants have been released in the Tamil film industry, such as Kumki (2012).
References
[edit]- ^ Kingsley, John Sterling, ed. (1884). The standard natural history. Mammals. Volume V. Boston: S.E. Cassino and Company. p. 219.
- ^ Sastri, B.N., ed. (1952). "Elephant". The Wealth of India. Volume III: D-E. New Delhi: Council of Scientific and Industrial Research. pp. 143–149.
- ^ Nibha Namboodiri, ed. (July 1997). "Elephant capturing in North-Eastern India by Parbati Baruah". Practical Elephant Management - A Handbook for Mahouts. Elephant Welfare Association. Archived from the original on 20 July 2009. Retrieved 29 August 2009.
- ^ Yule, Henry; Burnell, A.C. (1903). Crooke, William (ed.). Hobson-Jobson. London: John Murray. p. 251.
- ^ Jardine, Sir William, ed. (1854). The Naturalist's Library. Mammalia. Volume XXIV. Edinburgh: W.H. Lizars. p. 113.
- ^ Mitra, Naresh; Ray, Achintyarup (13 September 2009). "Caught in a trap". The Times of India. Kolkata: Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd.: 13. Archived from the original on 4 June 2009. Retrieved 14 September 2009.
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