A mahout is a person who drives an elephant. Genera and Species Loxodonta Loxodonta cyclotis Loxodonta africana Elephas Elephas maximus Elephas recki (extinct) Stegodon (extinct) Deinotherium (extinct) Mammuthus (extinct) Elephantidae (the elephants) is a family of animals, the only family in the order Proboscidea that still exists today. ...
The word mahout comes from the Hindi words mahaut and mahavat, derivatives of the Sanskrit word mahamatra, meaning "[one] having great measure." Hindi (हिनà¥à¤¦à¥€) is a language spoken mainly in North and Central India. ... The Sanskrit language ( संस्कृता वाक्) is one of the earliest attested members of the Indo-European language family and is not only a classical language, but also an official language of India. ...
Most common tool used by mahouts is the ankusha - a sharp hook, used to guide a tamed elephant by prodding on the back of its head. Usually, a mahout is assigned an elephant early in its life and they would be attached to each other through out the elephant's life.
Two mahouts expressed strong reservations with the job for their sons: one felt the safety risks were too great, and the other was urging his son to get an education for greater career advancement.
Mahouts who worked at the lodge on the edge of the park were close enough to commute home on a daily basis, whereas those at another lodge in the middle of the park could only go home when they were on leave.
Mahouts were organized in a hierarchical structure, with the most senior mahout, the jamadar, being in charge of the group.
An elephant of two years is taught by her mahout to do basic things such as turn left, turn right, and sit down.
Touch is also essential to the relationship between man and beast, with the mahout becoming so familiar with his elephant that he knows every inch of her enormous body.
Mahouts often cannot afford the medical bills for their elephant, so again, unless both animal and keeper are under the care of a camp, illness often goes untreated.
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