Tamil Nadu: Kartiki Gonsalves says Oscar is for women, conservation

CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu chief minister M K Stalin handed over a cash reward of 1 crore to Kartiki Gonsalves, the Oscar-winning director of 'Elephant Whisperers' on Tuesday. The documentary revolves around a tribal couple, Bomman and Bellie, who rear two orphaned elephant calves at a state-run rehabilitation centre in the Nilgiris.
"It was a proud moment to bring back the Oscars to the home state, Tamil Nadu.It's a great honour. The award is for the women, for conservation, for indigenous communities and for the protection of our wild species," Gonsalves said. While she chose not to respond to other questions on Tuesday, she mentioned in her previous interviews how she had chanced upon the couple during her visits to her hometown in the Nilgiris.
Supriya Sahu, additional chief secretary of environment department, who was also present on the occasion, said it was a great honour and a proud moment for Tamil Nadu and a big boost to conservation. "The chief minister congratulated her and she thanked him for the honour and the award," Sahu said.
Asked about the death of six elephants in the last three months three deaths due to an illegal electric fence by a farmer, one by a low-hanging HT power line, one due to injuries in its mouth because of suspected poisoning and another temple elephant following a fall from a truck Sahu said: "We are looking at modernisation of the forest force and setting up of technological systems such as artificial intelligence at all major migratory paths."
As for sensitising the farmers, the forest secretary said the government had asked field officers to work closely with communities and farmers. "We have enhanced compensation from 4 lakh to 5 lakh for loss of life due to elephants. In case of elephant deaths, no one can get away anymore. We are filing cases and have a death audit framework in place," she said.
The department is also working with other departments such as Tangedco to put in place systems to avoid electrocutions. "In summers, the conflict is more because elephants are migrating," Sahu said.