Kallana

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Kallana

Kani tribals dwelling in the rain forests of Western Ghat(Kerala, India)claim that there are two distinct varieties of elephants in the Peppara forest range (part of Western Ghats Kerala India), one the common Indian elephants and the other a dwarf variety which they call Kallana. The existance of a pygmy variety of elephant in India is yet to be scientifically ascertained. The name Kallana comes from the words" Kallu", which means stones or boulders, and "aana", which means elephant. The tribals gave the creatures this name because they see the smaller elephant more often in the higher altitudes where the terrain is rocky. Some tribals also call the delicate creatures Thumbiaana,(thumbi means dragonfly), for the speed with which the pachyderms run through trees and rocks when disturbed. If the claims of Kani tribals are believed there are ample reasons to believe that the "Kallana" they describe is a different pygmy variety of elephant since it is claimed to grow a maximum height of 5 feet,and do not mix with the more common Indian elephants, even taking pains to avoid them. In all other respects, they look like Indian elephants. According to the Kani tribals, pygmy elephant feed on grass, bamboo leaves, tubers and the barks of smaller trees. Like all elephants, they enjoy bathing in rivers and they too have dust baths. Unlike larger elephants,however, they seem able to negotiate steep, rocky inclines. For the past 15 years the forest officials and inhabitants of Agasthyamala regions have always heard Kani tribals talking about their Kallaanas. But there were never any confirmed sightings. Recently Sali Palode, a Kerala-based wildlife photographer and Mallan Kani, a member of Kerala’s Kani tribe who were in search of this elusive elephant could fortunately photograph one such dwarf elephant,and claim to have even seen a herd. Some experts, of course, continue to dispute the claims and vociferously maintain that these are baby elephants. Only DNA tests can establish the truth . Anyway the effort of Sali Palode and the Mallan Kani will herald a new vigour to ascertain the truth,by detailed reasearch The Kerala Forest Department has recently deputed search teams to the forests of Agasthyavanam, Neyyar and the Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary to search for the pygmy elephants.