‘Jao babu jungle mai jao, road pe khade nahi hote’: When words calm the wild in Chhattisgarh forest

RAIPUR: A video from Chhattisgarh’s Chhaal forest range has captured a rare moment of connection between humans and wild elephants, one built on calm voices and mutual respect.In the footage, members of the hathi mitra dal can be heard gently persuading a herd to return to the forest.

“Jao jao aage badho, jao babu jungle mai jao, road pe khade nahi hote” (Go ahead, dear, go into the forest, don’t stand on the road.

”)The elephants around 15 in number, including a baby, trumpet softly and turn back toward the trees.The incident took place on October 27 near Gadainbahri and Auranara villages, where the herd had wandered close to the road. Volunteers monitoring their movement maintained a respectful distance, using only calm instructions to guide them away.Forest officials say this is the first time such a moment has been recorded. where wild elephants visibly respond to human voices spoken with affection rather than fear.The hathi mitra dal, a team of local volunteers, has been formed to monitor elephant herds and prevent conflict. Their approach relies not on force or intimidation, but on familiarity and tone — a quiet coexistence unfolding deep in Chhattisgarh’s forests.