Jumbo goes to school

Like any other morning I dragged my sleepy kids and put them in the school bus at 7 am. Today I felt different. Instead of making mental task notes for the day, I felt this odd sensation in the pit of my stomach to hold them back. Normally I wouldn’t do that because I am the kind of mom who puts her kids in the bus and goes about her way.

I come home and read the paper. Everything looks the same except the little new item in the corner. “Tusker tramples four to death.” Even though this is not a sensational news for someone in Karnataka, I would still classify it as newsworthy.

Then I get an email from the principal of my daughters’ school that wild elephants were outside the school and every precaution is being taken to ensure the safety of our children. I immediately tuned into the local Kannada news channel and was shocked to see a herd of elephants barrelling down the road my kids take to school. I may have underestimated the odd feeling I got this morning - I call it Maternal Awareness. 

These tuskers are frequent visitors to many farms and villages along the Tamil Nadu – Karnataka border. They are mostly harmless unless they see a threat to themselves or their calves. My biggest fear was not the elephants’ visit to the city, I feared the city dwellers reaction to them and their lack of experience with wild animals. Yes, I agree we take up their space and resources and do irreparable damage to our ecosystem. But my fear was people underestimating the herd mentality of these herbivores. After all you cant be at the top of the food chain if the elephant puts its foot down – on your head.

But this is Bangalore. My fellow Bangaloreans have joined hands and have made it their responsibility to gently coax the animals into Bannerghatta National Park – a great place for wild animals that crave the city life.

My children came home safe and sound with many exaggerated stories about a herd of elephants that ate 10 people, trampled a hundred students, ate the cafeteria food and left the school campus ravished  long before school got over! I am just thankful that the elephants are making their way back to the forest and that all the children returned home cheerful and happy.

Here is a glimpse of the elephants passing through a school

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=diBC2Dos_6Q