Chennai, 8th February 2024: The Wildlife Trust of India (WTI), in collaboration with the Tamil Nadu Forest Department, and Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies (RNP) hosted a two-day celebration of “Yaanai Thiruvizha” (Gaj Utsav) in Guindy Auditorium in Guindy National Park, Chennai from February 7-8, 2025.

This grand event marks the culmination of a year-long campaign celebrating and advocating for the magnificent Asian elephants in India. Launched in Coimbatore on 12th August 2023, Elephant Day, in collaboration with the Tamil Nadu government, this campaign has traversed 16 corridors across 6 districts. Through partnerships with six local NGOs and government bodies, we have successfully reached over 19,000 people.

Hon’ble Minister of Forests, Government of Tamil Nadu, Dr. K Ponmudy addressing the audience during the inauguration ceremony | Photo by Team WTI

The GajUtsav Campaign, led by the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI), aims to secure the Right of Passage for Asian elephants through community mobilisation and stakeholder consultation. In recent years, these majestic species have faced increasing conflicts and threats due to human activities and habitat degradation. The GajUtsav Campaign addresses these challenges, striving to create a positive future for these iconic animals. 

The event was inaugurated by the Hon’ble Minister of Forests, Government of Tamil Nadu, Dr. K Ponmudy, along with the Principal Secretary to the Govt. Tamil Nadu, Dr. P. Senthil Kumar, Chief of Forests (HOFF), Thiru. Srinivas R. Reddy, and Chief Wildlife Warden (CWLW) Thiru. Rakesh Kumar Dogra, and dignitaries from Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) and Care Earth Trust. Distinguished guests from the Legislature, District Administration, Forest Department, and civil society were also present.

This was followed by the felicitation of ‘Conservation Heroes’ comprising twenty individuals and three groups who have made outstanding contributions to elephant conservation efforts. 

Conservation Heroes being felicitated by Dr. K. Ponmudy, Hon’ble Forest Minister, TN and Jose Louies, CEO, WTI | Photo by Team WTI

The festival brings together a diverse group of experts, dignitaries, artists, environmentalists, and the general public to discuss the critical need for elephant conservation, the role of elephants in Tamil culture, and the urgent necessity for sustainable governance. It explores themes like Gaja Shastra (balancing governance and conservation), Gaja Dharma (the elephant in religious texts), and Airavata (elephants in literature). Gajotsava is a cultural evening highlighting elephants in art, music, and dance, while Gaja Gamini looks at their role in Indian cinema. 

Handcrafted elephant-inspired art pieces were on display at the event| Photo by Team WTI

In addition to thought-provoking discussions, the event showcased stunning elephant-inspired art pieces crafted from sustainable and recycled materials by local artists Ezhilarasan Ezhumale, Ramkumar Kannadasan, Aidan Elias Sebastian, Jacob Jebaraj, and A. Prabhu. An illustrated map created by Bhubaneshwar-based artist Sudarshan Shaw, highlighting Tamil Nadu’s elephant corridors was also on display, emphasising the urgent need to protect these crucial migratory routes. The event also featured a traditional shadow puppetry show (Bommalattam) and a dance performance that narrated the stories of elephants as cultural icons while raising awareness about the challenges of human-elephant conflict.

Traditional Shadow Puppetry show (Bommalattam) during the evening| Photo by Saran Gullig

By celebrating elephants through art, culture, and dialogue, the Yaanai Thiruvizha seeks to foster a deeper connection between people and elephants, while advocating for the urgent need to protect these iconic creatures for future generations.

Hon’ble Minister of Forests, Dr. K. Ponmudy in his speech, emphasised the importance of joint efforts in conservation, highlighting the Tamil Nadu government’s commitment to wildlife protection under the leadership of Chief Minister Mr. Stalin. He announced that a budget of ₹5 crore has been allocated for a 10 km fence in Thondamuthur, Coimbatore, aimed at proactive conflict resolution.

He further stated that the joint efforts of the Tamil Nadu Forest Department, WTI, and other NGOs are crucial in conserving elephants and supporting communities near their habitats.

Dr. P. Senthil Kumar, Principal Secretary to the Govt. of Tamil Nadu, highlighted the state’s use of AI technology to monitor elephant movements on railway tracks, preventing fatalities.

Chief Wildlife Warden (CWLW), Thiru. Rakesh Kumar Dogra, described WTI’s initiative as a landmark effort in elephant conservation, underscoring India’s long history of coexistence with elephants.

Jose Louies, CEO of WTI, highlighted Yaanai Thiruvizha as a collaborative campaign with the Tamil Nadu Forest Department to promote elephant conservation and protect wildlife corridors. He acknowledged the overwhelming support from the public and the government, reaffirming WTI’s commitment to community-driven conservation through partnerships with grassroots organizations and the Green Corridor Champion (GGC) network.