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Pachyderm Partnerships

Prioritising trust, respect, and long-term safety of elephants and their carers.

Across India's forest landscapes, captive working elephants and their mahouts serve as lifelines for conservation - carrying supplies through impassable terrain, facilitating emergency rescues, and patrolling vast wilderness areas that vehicles cannot reach. Yet these vital partnerships have long been built on dominance rather than dialogue, with training systems rooted in fear compromising both elephant welfare and mahout safety. While we depend on these remarkable animals for life-saving forest protection work, the foundation of trust necessary for true partnership has been eroded by generations of coercive practices. At Pachyderm Partnerships, we’re working to rebuild that trust - gently, patiently, and with respect.
About us
In many forest landscapes across India, captive working elephants are a lifeline for patrolling hard-to-reach terrain. However, their role extends far beyond routine patrols—they are indispensable during emergency rescue operations and crucial for transporting rations, medical aid, and survival essentials deep into dense, roadless forests. When monsoon rains cut off access or when forest fires, animal rescues, or sudden evacuations demand swift action, it is these elephants who carry supplies and people through terrain no vehicle can navigate. Yet, the very animals we depend on for such life-saving work are often subjected to training systems built on fear. Their caregivers—mahouts—navigate these same forests on foot, facing daily physical and emotional risks, all while managing complex relationships with animals whose cooperation is often not freely given. In many cases, the foundation of these interactions has long been dominance, not dialogue.

Pachyderm Partnerships was born from a simple belief: safety and care must go both ways. We’re working to complement this dynamic through the first Positive Reinforcement Training (PRT) program for captive working elephants and mahouts in Pakke Tiger Reserve, Arunachal Pradesh. Our approach centres on building mutual trust, with the long view of improving both well-being and conservation outcomes. Our progress is elephant-paced: slow, deliberate, and deeply personal, shaped by small breakthroughs and hard-won transformations.

One such breakthrough came through Joimala, a 40-year-old female elephant rescued from Namsai, who had spent over 15 years at Pakke without ever accepting food in her trunk. Her mahouts shared heartbreaking accounts from her time as a begging elephant in private ownership, where elephants were often punished—even burned—for trying to take food. It’s likely she had learned that using her trunk would bring pain. This posed a serious challenge: without her willingness to take food, we couldn’t begin positive reinforcement training. Everyone was nervous—what if she refused?

But over weeks of gentle, patient effort, Joimala accepted food in her trunk. That seemingly small moment marked a turning point, a sign of trust slowly being rebuilt. With that first bite, she opened the door to a new chapter of care, training, and connection between her and her mahouts. In many ways, Joimala’s journey mirrors the heart of our project—where healing and learning happen together, one trusting step at a time.

What we do

Through close collaboration with forest departments, psychologists, artists, mahouts, behaviourists, and veterinarians, our work spans across three interconnected areas:

Voluntary Medical Training

We train elephants to participate willingly in their own healthcare—whether it involves offering their feet for inspection, accepting injections, or standing calmly during temperature checks and blood draws. This isn’t about tricks—it’s about dignity, consent, and long-term health.

Community and Learning Exchanges

We co-design mental health workshops, facilitate creative expression, and build spaces for reflection. We foster cross-site learning; for instance, mahouts from Kaziranga and Pakke have met to witness diverse elephant management practices and share insights.

Traditional-Ecological-Knowledge & Care Practices

From wound-healing plants to traditional diets, mahouts hold a deep, oral archive of ethnobotanical wisdom. We work together to help in written documentation of these multiple knowledges.

Stories from the field

What does the life of this work look like?
Sometimes, it’s a mahout singing again after years of silence.

Listen to “Haathi Bondhu” — a song born in the forest, sung by mahouts and musicians alike.

Or an elephant offering behaviours, not from fear, but trust.

Elephants Offering Behaviours

Learning, Sharing and Growing with Fellow Mahouts

Kaziranga Exposure Tour

It’s in quiet mornings spent painting dreams, sharing memories, or simply listening.Below are snapshots from “Thinking and Working with Elephants”—our One Health dialogue.

Link to pictures of the Mental Health Workshop

Snapshots from the sound, movement, and reflection in the forest during our “Safar” workshop.

Link to image of Safar workshop

Training Journals & Field Notes
Sketches, photos, and notes from our daily training sessions.

Link to photos of journal entries

We hope this is just the beginning. As we refine and translate our training manuals for mahouts, we also aim to deepen our understanding of cultural knowledge systems, traditional healing practices, and the lived experiences of elephant caregivers and see if it's possible to build long-term collaborations in other areas. Our goal is to achieve safer and more compassionate elephant management, where trust, care, and respect guide the future of human-elephant relationships. We hope to raise further support to reimagine how humans and elephants can live, work, and care for each other when protecting forests.

The team

Team members

Shradha Rathod (Project Lead)
Shradha Rathod is a wildlife biologist from the Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology. In 2015, she worked with the Pakke Tiger Reserve Forest Department as a biologist, and since then, has been closely involved with the Department on various protected area management activities. Over the past two years, she has been documenting the lives of mahouts and captive elephants at Pakke. She has a keen interest in documenting the ethnobotanical knowledge associated with captive elephants, including the plants they interact with, their foraging preferences, and the traditional ecological knowledge held by mahouts. Through her project, Pachyderm Partnerships, she works to enhance the well-being of both elephants and their mahouts, while highlighting their vital role in conservation.Shradha also has a special interest in the snakes of Northeast India and is the co-author of the book Snakes of Pakke Tiger Reserve. She is actively involved in outreach programs that address human–snake conflict in the region.

Kime Rambia (Co-lead)
Kime Rambia is the Range Forest Officer of Tippi Wildlife Range under the Pakke Tiger Reserve Forest Department. A dedicated and passionate forest officer, he has played an active role in protected area management and wildlife conservation in Arunachal Pradesh. Rambia brings a deep commitment to the well-being of both wildlife and frontline staff, and has consistently supported innovative conservation approaches within the Reserve. He has a keen interest in the care and management of captive elephants, recognising their pivotal role in forest protection and patrolling in difficult terrains.

Chrissy Pratt (Lead Trainer) - October 2024 to May 2025
Chrissy Pratt, an animal trainer and behaviourist with 22 years of experience, specialised in positive reinforcement training. From October 2024 to April 2025, she served as the lead trainer for the Pachyderm Partnerships project at Pakke Tiger Reserve. She founded Elephation, an NGO that developed innovative approaches to foster mutual trust and respect in elephant-human partnerships. Passionate about all animals and nature, Chrissy collaborated with many organisations worldwide to improve elephant welfare and training practices.

Pooja Rathod (Team Member)
Pooja Rathod is a National Geographic Explorer, marine biologist turned wildlife cinematographer from India. She has worked on several natural history documentaries for Disney+, Nat Geo, BBC, Animal Planet and Discovery channel. She was DOP on the recent Emmy nominated series ‘Secrets of the Elephants’, Asia episode. Pooja has a Masters degree in Wildlife biology and conservation. She runs an ocean initiative called ‘Know Your Fish’ that helps seafood consumers choose their fish based on breeding cycles of fish. It introduced the first ever seafood calendar.

Rutwik Kharkar (Data Analyst)
Rutwik Kharkar is a software engineer, ecologist, and animal training enthusiast with over a decade of experience training working and pet dogs using positive reinforcement methods. He is interested in the application of behavioral psychology to animal training, and in documenting the effectiveness of these methods.

Ashok Boro (Assistant Data Analyst)

The Mahouts of Pakke

Rasham Brah
Lead Mahout, Khari Anti-Poaching Camp, Seijosa Range
With over 25 years of experience, Rasham Brah is one of the oldest mahouts at Pakke. Known for his calm authority and deep understanding of elephant behaviour, he has worked with several elephants over the years and has been Khaisingh’s trusted companion for nearly a decade. Rasham has also helped raise and care for rescued calves, bringing a wealth of knowledge to his work. A natural leader, he is always generous with his experience, fostering a supportive environment for fellow mahouts while encouraging individual styles of working with elephants.

Debaru Guawala
Mahout, Khari Anti-Poaching Camp, Seijosa Range
Debaru has shared his life with Bahadur for 18 years, building a bond rooted in mutual trust and quiet consistency. His steady presence and gentle manner have played a key role in Bahadur’s care and well-being. Debaru’s ability to communicate clearly with the elephant - often without the need for words - reflects the depth of their relationship. A dedicated and reliable mahout, Debaru brings patience and emotional insight to his work.

Bikas Guawala
Mahout, Khari Anti-Poaching Camp, Seijosa Range
With 15 years of experience in elephant care, Bikas brings a mix of quiet confidence and alert responsiveness to his work. Though relatively new in his role with Bahadur, he has already developed a strong rapport with the elephant. Bikas’s ability to stay composed under challenging moments and his instinctive understanding of elephant behaviour make him a valuable asset for Pakke.

Juli Welly
Mahout, Khari Anti-Poaching Camp, Seijosa Range
Juli has worked with Vijaya, the oldest elephant at Khari, for about 14 years. His calm and steady temperament makes him uniquely suited to her care, especially given her age and slower pace. Juli approaches his work with patience and compassion, adapting with quiet flexibility to the needs of his elephant.

Sankhang Boro
Mahout, Khari Anti-Poaching Camp, Seijosa Range
‍Sankhang began his journey as a mahout at the young age of twelve, and now, with a decade of experience, he works closely with Khaisingh at Pakke. Intelligent and observant, he brings both traditional knowledge and a youthful curiosity to his role. Sankhang has a firm grasp of elephant behaviour, forest ecology, and local medicinal practices, making him a well-rounded and insightful member of the mahout community.

‍Pali Nabum
Diji Anti-Poaching Camp, Tippi Range
‍With over two decades of experience at Pakke, Pali Nabum brings a quiet strength and deep-rooted knowledge to his work with elephants. Though soft-spoken, he carries a wealth of experience, not just in elephant care, but also in understanding the rhythms of the forest. His calm presence and intimate familiarity with the landscape and its wildlife make him a respected and reliable figure at Diji Camp.

‍Brajen Saikia
Mahout, Diji Anti-Poaching Camp, Tippi Range
‍Brajen has worked in Pakke for over a decade, building a steady and trusting relationship with his elephant. Known for his patience and calm demeanour, he brings a quiet confidence to his work. He is deeply observant, curious, and always eager to learn more about elephant behaviour and care. His long-term bond with Joimala and his openness to new approaches make him an invaluable part of Pakke..

The Jugalis

Chunumunu Guawala
Jugali, Khari Anti-Poaching Camp, Seijosa Range
With nearly 13 years of experience working alongside elephants, Chunumunu has developed a particularly close bond with Vijaya. Quietly observant and deeply attuned, Chunumunu brings a calm presence to the camp and plays an important role in ensuring the daily comfort and care of the elephants.

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Sonu Kharia
Jugali, Khari Anti-Poaching Camp, Seijosa Range
The youngest member of the Khari team, Sonu, has been working with Khaisingh for the past two years. His energy, agility, and physical strength bring a dynamic edge to the demanding work of caring for elephants. Eager to learn and quick on his feet, Sonu makes significant contributions to the camp's everyday routines and is steadily growing in experience and confidence under the guidance of senior mahouts.

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Kaka Tallang
Jugali, Khari Anti-Poaching Camp, Seijosa Range
One of the younger members of the team, Kaka, has been closely involved in the care of Tamuk—the youngest elephant at Khari—for over five years. His boundless energy, curiosity, and enthusiasm mirror Tamuk’s own spirited nature, making them a fitting pair.

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Lucky Nabum
Jugali, Diji Anti-Poaching Camp, Tippi Range
Lucky is one of the newest members of the team at Diji Camp, having recently joined as a jugali. Under the guidance of experienced mahouts, he is steadily learning the rhythms of elephant care and the ways of forest life. Lucky brings a quiet dedication and a deep curiosity to his work—qualities that reflect his genuine interest in becoming a skilled mahout. As part of the next generation of elephant handlers, his enthusiasm and willingness to learn promise a hopeful future for ethical and compassionate elephant care.

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Jiskal Nabum
Jugali, Diji Anti-Poaching Camp, Tippi Range
Jiskal recently joined the Forest Department at Pakke as a jugali and is quickly proving to be an eager and attentive learner. Working closely with senior mahouts at Diji Camp, he shows a keen interest in understanding the nuances of elephant behaviour and welfare. Jiskal’s curiosity and commitment are evident in his everyday responsibilities, and he represents the next wave of caretakers ready to carry forward the legacy of working with elephants rooted in respect, patience, and traditional knowledge.

The Elephants

Khaisingh,
Khari Anti-Poaching Camp, Seijosa RangeBorn in 1994 and brought to Pakke in 2007, Khaisingh is the most eager and even-tempered of Pakke’s elephants, known for his strong motivation and gentle nature. Calm and trusting, he shares a deep bond with his mahouts and exhibits remarkable patience and tolerance, even with unfamiliar people and surroundings.
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Bahadur,
Khari Anti-Poaching Camp, Seijosa Range
Bahadur arrived in Pakke alongside Joimala and is around the same age, having served the reserve for over four decades. He is known for his intelligence, calm presence, and perceptive nature. Though once hesitant and guarded, he has grown into a confident and cooperative elephant, forming a strong bond with his mahouts.
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Vijaya,
Khari Anti-Poaching Camp, Seijosa Range
Vijaya is the only elephant born in Pakke and the oldest in the reserve, having served for nearly five decades. Calm, steady, and deeply bonded with her mahouts, she carries herself with quiet dignity. Though slow to warm up to new people and known as one of the most feared elephants in Pakke, she is also among the hardworking, reliable, resilient, and unwavering in her duties.
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Joimala,
Diji Anti-Poaching Camp, Tippi Range
Joimala is only a little younger than Vijaya and has spent over four decades serving in Pakke. One of the oldest elephants at the reserve, she carries herself with a calm, nurturing presence that makes her a mother figure to the other younger elephants in her camp. She is known to be gentle and composed and shares a deep, trusting bond with her mahouts.

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Tamuk,
Diji Anti-Poaching Camp, Tippi Range
‍Tamuk arrived in Pakke in 2014 and is the youngest- and most mischievous - of all the elephants at the reserve. Exceptionally smart and curious, he often utilises his cleverness to accomplish his goals his way. Despite his naughtiness, Tamuk’s energy and quick thinking make him a lively and engaging presence in Pakke.

Advisors, Co-dreamers, Co-Facilitators

Arghadeep Barua, Dr. Abhilasha Sharma, Dr. Diptarup Chowdhury, Gangamuni Guawala, Geto Marde (Forester, Seijosa Range, Pakke Tiger Reserve), Kanishk Kala, Limar Loyi, Montu Basumatari, Nandini Velho, Rajo Tayem, Riaz Ahmed, Dr. Rinku Gohain, Salil Subedi, Satyaprakash Singh, IFS (Divisional Forest Officer, Pakke Tiger Reserve), Singku Maga (Range Forest Officer, Seijosa Range, Pakke Tiger Reserve), Sucheta Roy, Sreeja Basu and Svabhu Kohli.

Partners

Pakke Tiger Reserve Forest Department
Institute of Public Health, Bengaluru
Dusty Foot Foundation

Funders

Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies
The Habitats Trust
Pakke Tiger Reserve Forest Department
DBT/Wellcome Trust India Alliance (Nandini Velho & Prashanth NS)
Royal Enfield Social Mission (Green Story Film to Pooja Rathod)
Credible Engineering Construction Projects Ltd.
Duleep Matthai Nature Conservation Trust (Design and Creation of Lesson Plans for Positive Reinforcement Training Manual)

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