Archive · 2 Sep 2025
Parbati Barua: India's First Lady Mahout and Elephant Conservationist
Parbati Barua, called the 'Daughter of Elephants,' is a remarkable woman.
She is India's first female mahout, a person who works with elephants.
Since she was 14, she has dedicated her life to taking care of these animals.
She uses a special, traditional method to tame them.
She has trained over 500 elephants and has also helped resolve issues between humans and elephants.
She has received awards for her work, showing how important her contributions are.
She has represented India at conferences.
Her work demonstrates India's respect for elephants.
Barua has helped to conserve elephants.
Parbati Barua is India's first female mahout, known as the 'Daughter of Elephants'.
She comes from the royal family of Gauripur in Assam.
She began working with elephants at the age of 14, domesticating her first elephant.
She has used traditional methods to train over 500 elephants throughout her career.
Barua has received multiple awards for her contributions to elephant welfare and conservation.
- Who
- Parbati Barua, India's first female mahout, known as 'Daughter of Elephants'.
- What
- Barua's work involves taming, caring for, and conserving elephants.
- When
- She began her work at 14 and has devoted over five decades to it.
- Where
- Assam, and has worked with forest departments across India and internationally.
- Why
- To break gender stereotypes, conserve elephants, resolve conflicts, and treat injured elephants.
- Born
- March 14, 1953
- Known as
- Hasti Kanya (Daughter of Elephants)
- Profession
- Mahout, Elephant Conservationist
- First Elephant Tamed
- At 14 years old
- Method of Taming
- Mela Shikar (traditional Assamese technique)
- Training
- Trained more than 500 elephants
- Awards
- Padma Shri (2024), Asom Gaurav Award (2023), UNEP Global 500 Roll of Honour (1989)