HE IS NOT THE 'ELEPHANT MAN', HE IS THE ELEPHANT DOCTOR'. Dr. Kushal Konwar Sarma

      HE IS NOT THE 'ELEPHANT MAN ' -  HE IS THE 'ELEPHANT DOCTOR'.

 There is a Jamaican dancehall musician and singer whose stage name is "Elephant Man."  A man was born in the United Kingdom in August 1862 and died in April 1890 whose name was John Merrick. He had severe deformities and was  called "Elephant Man."

There is another man who says "I am the happiest when I am around elephants."  He is 60 year-old Dr. Kushal Konwar Sarma and affectionally called the "Elephant doctor." Earlier this year Dr Sarma was awarded the Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian award given in India.

In a heartwarming story on the BBC Hindi website Dilip Kumar Sharma tells how Dr. Sarma has spent 35 years of his life caring for elephants in the forests of India and Indonesia. He may have treated more than 10,000 elephants.

He grew up in a village called Barma in Assam in north-east India where  some 5,000 of the more than 27,000 elephants in India live. When he was about 7 years old his family took care of a female elephant and that was when young Kushal "began to love elephants." 

Sarma's mentor was Professor Sudhash Chandra Pathak. In 1984 he went with the Professor to treat a sick elephant in Manas National Park. "I was very excited that day," Dr. Sarma told the BBC.

"This love and bond with elephants cemented his career as the go-to doctor in the state," the article said.

His work is particularly valuable during the flooding season as many baby elephants get separated from their mothers at that time."they need extra care and support. That's why I help out during the floods," Dr. Sarma said. The Kaziranga National Park, a UNESCO World heritrage site was flooded in July this year and over 50 animals died.

There are many dangers and risks involved but "the work has been fulfilling." Dr. Sarma says. He has been able to "understand the language of elephants. I communicate with them through signs." 

He hopes his daughter, who has just completed her degree in veterinary science will carry forward the responsibility of treating elephants after him.

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