Tarun Gogoi
Animal Keeper
Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation (CWRC)

Tarun Gogoi joined Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) in 2002, when he was offered work as animal keeper at the Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation (CWRC), run by WTI along with its partner International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW).

Before that he was a daily wage worker employed with the Assam Forest Department in Kaziranga National Park. He worked as an assistant to a mahout of a Forest Department elephant. His skills and compassion for the pachyderm was noticed by veterinarians at CWRC, who believed that he would be able to help look after displaced elephant calves and assist in their rehabilitation.

At CWRC, he was initially responsible for nursing baby calves and taking them for daily walks. Now, he is also closely associated with the Elephant Reintegration Project in Manas National Park. His ability to connect with the wild elephant calves and their response towards him has amazed his seniors at CWRC.

“It appears as though he can speak to elephants,” says Dr Phulmoni Gogoi, IFAW-WTI veterinarian, CWRC. “Last year, a two-year-old elephant, named Hamren, was brought here from Hamren, Karbi-Anglong. Hamren was injured severely by local people when he got left behind by his natal herd during a crop raiding session. He was highly stressed and violent. Tarun was the first one Hamren allowed to come close. He would even take food from Tarun’s hands.” 

Having been involved in wildlife rehabilitation for nearly a decade, Tarun has developed skills of an expert wildlife rehabilitator, not just for elephants but other wild animals as well. He also has a very good understanding of wild animal behaviour and makes an invaluable assistant to veterinarians attending to a multitude of species at CWRC.

With excellent physical capabilities, Tarun works as well in the hills as he does in the plains. He has also worked at the Centre for Bear Rehabilitation and Conservation (CBRC), established by WTI, its partner International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) and Arunachal Pradesh Forest Department in Pakke Tiger Reserve.

After having radio-tracked rehabilitated Asiatic black bears in Pakke and rehabilitated elephants in Manas, Tarun is well-versed with practical functioning of radio-telemetry.

Known to be a perfectionist, Tarun’s diligence and efficacy in completing any work assigned to him, has earned him praise and respect from not just his colleagues but his seniors and local people as well.

He is a very good cook. He also has excellent communication skills, which he uses to spread conservation awareness among the local people and visitors to CWRC.