Tusky

The sun had set in the dense forest of Mudumalai. The chirping of the birds had ended. All the animals had taken to the retreat. Did I say all? No, not all. All except Jumo, the baby elephant, who was restless. He had wandered away from the main herd and was standing on an elevated patch near a little stream making two distinct sounds… one that was shrill as if calling someone and the other one that you could say sounded like someone sobbing. He stood there crying relentlessly despite the forest becoming darker by the minute and knowing well that a lonely baby elephant would be an easy prey to the predators who were at large in the jungle.  Hearing his cries, the matriarch of the herd and some other elephants came running to Jumo and tried to pacify him with their trunks, gently rubbing him from the head to the where the little tail hung on.

Why are you here Jumo and where is your father?

Jumo started howling and said… Papa Tusky and I were playing here since the afternoon. Then Papa was trying to show me how to kick. He kicked the fruit ball hard and it went flying across to the other side of the stream. Papa said that he would get me another ball but I insisted on playing with the same one. Papa then swam across the stream to the other side and started looking for the ball. He has not come back from there since. I have been calling him back but he is not paying any heed to my cries. I am sure he is angry with me for being so suborn and that is why he is not coming back.

Tusky

The matriarch, Paddy, realized that Tusky, the one with the biggest tusk in the herd and father to Jumo was missing. She now lifted her trunk above her head and blew the trumpet a couple of times. The sound was so loud that could be heard in any part of the jungle and wake up the sleepiest of all animals. This was a call for Tusky to return. All the other elephants waited eagerly to see if there was any movement on the other side of the stream. Alas, here was none!

Hmmm… this is not good. As we all know on the other side of the stream lies the Bandipur forest which is the domain of our sworn enemies, the tigers. This water body acts as the natural border between their territory and ours. They do not venture to our side and we do not put a foot on theirs. Any violation is dealt with utmost severity and death to the intruder is guaranteed. That is the rule that has been in place for many generations and allows peaceful co-existence in our respective lands. Tusky knew this very well and yet made the mortal mistake of sneaking into the tiger territory.

It is all my fault… why did I do it… Papa please come back… I will be a good boy and never ever trouble you… boo hoo hoo.. Papa, I am sorry… come back please…

Paddy and Jumo

Paddy went close to Jumo and started holding him tight with her trunk… don’t worry, baby. Your Papa will come back soon. He is the pride of our herd. We will find him if he does not come home on his own. But for now, let us go back and sleep. Going into tiger territory at night would be taken as not an intrusion but as an invasion and a full-scale war that will erupt between the cats and the pachyderms. And the result will be bloody and the jungle will never ever look the same. Come Jumo, stay with me tonight.

Jumo obeyed Paddy and walked away. She could not sleep at all and was restless. Paddy, too, did not sleep for she knew what the baby was going through.

Next morning, by the time Jumo woke up, he saw two people who he recognized. They were Bomman and Bellie, B&B in short. These were strange human beings who could understand the elephant language and also communicate with them. The elders called them Elephant Whisperers but to Jumo, they were the kind-hearted people who played with the baby elephants often and the fathers never suspected any ill of them. Paddy had communicated to B&B the problem and, along with them, walked to the stream. Bomman and Bellie took a long staff in hand and tied a piece of white cloth and swam across the stream to Bandipur, the tiger land. Over the years, the tigers too had seen the couple and had somehow accepted them as being neutrals if not friends.

Musa

The elephants saw B&B talk to the tiger king, Musa, and his tribe who were all out in the open and ready for a war if they saw any infiltration from the other side. It looked like a pretty animated talk and sometimes it was looking like the tigers were getting angry and showing their fangs. After some tense time, the two whisperers turned around and swam back to the Mudumalai elephant forest zone. They spoke aloud for all the elephants to hear what had transpired on the other side.

Bomman spoke…Listen O Gentle Pachyderms! The tigers have said that they did not hurt Tusky yesterday. They had gone to the other part of the jungle for a feast arranged for them by their leopard cousins of Kabini forest. They have reluctantly allowed you to enter their territory for just one day to search for Tusky. They will not attack any of you and you too should also stay away from getting into any fight with them. Bellie and I will accompany you in this search operations and will do all communication with the tigers, should the situation so arise. I hope I have made the terms clear and you promise to honour the same?

Watchful Tigers

All the elephants, including Jumo, lifted their trunks and trumpeted in unison as the tigers looked on to this majestic scene unfolding before their eyes. The matriarch led the herd into the water and at the tail were Bomman and Bellie who wanted to be a part of the search party and also had a special work of keeping Jumo in control. As the elephants walked out of the water, the tigers simply stood aside in two rows as if giving a guard of honour. In normal times, this would have been the scene of the bloodiest battle ever fought on land, but not today. Today was the day to find Tusky.

The elephants spread out across the forest in order to cover more area and quickly find out where Tusky was. After a while, the elephants heard Paddy’s loud trumpet which was a signal that they need to assemble where the matriarch stood. Jumo was very excited as this could possibly mean Tusky, his father, had been located. He started running in the direction from where the trumpet blew. B&B asked him to slow down, but Jumo was determined to reach the appointed place quickly and meet Tusky again. By the time Jumo reached the place, almost all other elephants had already made their way there and had their heads hanging down in sadness. Jumo saw his father Tusky lying still on the ground that had turned red. He saw that Tusky’s famed tusks were missing. Jumo was in tears... he was inconsolable…the elephant whisperers took him aside and kissed him and wiped his tears. Jumo lay down on the ground with his eyes fixed on Tusky… my father…my dear father…

Elephants looking at Tusky

The news reached the tigers who also came running to the spot and saw the terrible scene. The Whisperers went close to Tusky and saw that on her forehead were a couple of deep wounds caused by bullets fired from large-caliber guns. It was clear to all who had gathered that Tusky had been killed by hunters who not only killed animals for gaming but took away the most precious parts for their gain. Paddy and the tiger king, Musa, stepped aside and spoke…

This is a grave danger to both the tribes. We too have lost some of ours to bullets lately. They have to be found and taught a lesson before they kill any more of us.

Yes. I agree. For the sake of the peace in the jungle, let us work together in this mission. Let us search, find and eliminate the enemy who lurks dangerously in our realm. We need to find these unwanted creatures quickly before they can do any further damage to the beauty of the jungle.

Suddenly, a vulture, with the biggest wingspan landed where the two leaders were talking. This was Kamu, the vulture king. Ugly looking creature with dark big eyes, sharp beak and a head that looked drenched in blood.

Kamu- courtesy Wiki

I know that the two of you think of me and my people as outcasts and below your dignity to talk, walk and share anything with. For generations you have spread bad things about us but we can have this conversation on another day. Today, I offer my help to you to find out the killers. We have the best eyesight and a nose that can small blood and flesh from great distances. Forget who we are and what we do as scavengers, take our hand of friendship now and you will not regret it.

Paddy and Musa, stepped back a few steps from Kamu. They had their mutual dislike for vultures and other scavengers.  The duo spoke in a language only they could understand and then moved ahead towards Kamu. Paddy spoke… Thank you Kamu for the help. We are ready to work on this search mission with your tribe. We agree that you will be an invaluable ally in this mission.

Kamu smiled… Thank you for accepting us as a part of the jungle tribe for once. As a mark of our goodwill, I assure you that none of my people will touch Tusky who can be given a good clean send off in the manner you deem fit.

Paddy nodded in appreciation of this one kind gesture and now the three took off in search. In no time, Kamu signaled to Paddy and Musa that the enemy had been sighted. The trio once more assembled and Kamu spoke…

At one end of Bandipur are two tents which seem to have been recently pitched. My people have also seen some big wheeled things there. The people are carrying things from the tent to the big wheels. They seem to be in a hurry.

That place is quite some distance from here. They will possibly go away by the time we reach there.

Kamu smiled… You will take time, but not us. We will reach there quickly and hold them back till you reach.

That would be great Kamu but be careful. These killers have guns and are dangerous.

Kamu flew away swiftly with his huge tribe of vultures that looked more like hundreds of fighter jets flying in squadron formation. They reached the place where the hunters were busy loading tusks and tiger skins when the vultures swooped down upon them with ferocity that they had never been experienced before. Initially, the hunters tried to wave their guns to drive away the attackers and then they aimed their guns and fired. The vultures were experienced birds who knew about fights in the air as well as avoiding bullets fired from a one off gun. But this was a different situation, for a number of guns were blazing together now and many a bird got hit and they fell to the ground.  The birds kept attacking and distracting the hunters relentlessly despite the losses. They resembled the Kamikaze pilots of World War 2 who were ready to fly their war planes into enemy warships in a suicidal manoeuvre.  In some time, the land forces of tigers and elephants arrived and the hunters saw that they were completely surrounded by two rings of mighty animals.

Bomman and Bellie had also arrived with Jumo. They showed their white flag and went towards the hunters. Both sides were on high alert and an uneasy impasse ensued momentarily.

You have destroyed the peace of the jungle. You have killed innocent animals and birds. Your position now is completely hopeless as you will never be able to escape alive from here. surrendering is your only chance apart from any mercy the animals show towards you. Here is Jumo, whose father you killed for taking away his ivory tusks. According to the law of the jungle, only this baby elephant who has been wronged by you can take a final call on your fate. Whatever Jumo decides will be followed. Just drop your guns now and let Jumo decide.

The other animals shouted…Jumo give death to the killers… death…  death to them all!

Jumo was very angry at the killers of his father but still in his own language spoke to B&B… If we were to kill these men today, their children will become fatherless like me. Children deserve better lives with their parents and they should not suffer the wrong doings of their fathers. Let us not do any more killing but allow them to go home without their guns and their loot. Tell them to never ever return to the jungle other than as visitors to  see us freely living in the wild.

Paddy and Musa were amazed at the maturity of the baby elephant. They asked a few of their followers to escort the hunters out of the jungle. The guns and other equipment were crushed under the trampling feet of the elephants. The two lords of the jungle decided to take the ivory and tiger skins to the banks of the stream separating the two tribes. The tiger skins were put one on top of the other and placed in the centre. The ivory tusks planted around to create a small enclosure. The Elephant Whisperers wrote a board at the entrance… Temple of Tusky.

Paddy and Musa announced… We declare, from now on, if ever a dispute were to arise between the tigers and elephants, we will come to this enclosure for mediation and avoid fights. Kamu, you and your followers will, henceforth, never be discriminated against and you will be given full citizenship status of the jungle world. This is our world and all have a role to play in maintaining harmony. All are welcome in peace to the jungle world.

SS