DALTONGANJ: It is a learning exercise for both elephants and their mahouts (handlers) at Betla National Park Betla’s mahouts and three elephants from Karnataka are now learning new key words like ‘baith’ ‘le met’ and ‘a la dey’.‘Le met’ is a term which the three Karnataka elephants Kal Bhairav, Sita and her 14 month old calf Murugesan understand very well – to them it means food.“The three pachyderms enjoy this time most and wait for it eagerly,” said the mahout of Kal Bhairav Lal Bihari Singh. Kal Bhairav is a huge tusker. It is being kept under a watchful eye by Singh round the clock.Another expression ‘Tee Ray’ means lie down. Mirender Bhuiyan, the mahout of Sita spoke these magic words before Sita and it quickly complied by getting into a sleeping position. All these elephants are being kept near Kawal Dah jheel. Huge trees provide these elephants excellent shade in summer.‘A La Dey’ is chanted by the mahouts Lal Bihari and Mirender whenever they wish the giants to bow before them to allow them to climb on them. The moment these words are uttered, the two elephants Kal Bhairav and Sita stretch their legs to help mahouts climb atop. The obedient elephants also answer to ‘baith’ by sitting down.Forest officials said that the three Karnataka elephants do not seem to miss their old Karnataka mahouts. They have befriended the ones at Betla. These two mahouts said they have not faced any anger or reaction from the trio.Sources said in March, when these three had reached Betla from Karnataka by road after covering a distance of 2,200 km, they looked fragile. Today, these three have gained weight and are far more healthy. Each of the three eats khichree in the morning and then 12kg of rice and straw two times a day. Murugesan still drinks mother’s milk.

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