This settlement in the middle of the forest in Coorg is famous for training elephants. In the days of the Maharajas, wild elephants were caught in an operation called Khedda, and trained by tame elephants. These days, the elephants bred in the camp are trained.
Elephants are a part of Indian culture. They go in stately procession on special occasions. Some temples maintain a fleet of elephants, which are decorated during festivals. The forest department uses them to carry logs and to do other heavy work in the forests.
The habitat of wild elephants is dwindling at an alarming rate now. There are reports of herds of elephants going on a rampage in the villages bordering the forest every year.
Although the elephant is greatly loved in India, its population is decreasing.
Click on the pictures to enlarge them.
On the last day of every month, Noel of A Plant Fanatic in Hawaii hosts the meme 'the Hot, the Loud and the Proud. You can view many tropicals from all over the world here. In my garden in the tropics, orange seems to be the predominant colout now, besides the white of the jasmines. 
THis heliconia is upright. Its shape reminds me of some kind of ancient weapon. 
The lobster claw heliconias are flowering profusely now. Each plant is vying with its neighbour to send out a longer bract. 
Squirrels like to eat these flowers . I wonder if there is anything that deters the squirrels. 
