First woman elephant mahout Parbati Baruah ('Hasti Kanya') receives Padma Shri award for animal conservation and challenging gender roles.

Parbati Baruah, a pioneering elephant mahout and animal conservationist from Assam, has been awarded the Padma Shri. The 67-year-old, known as the "Elephant Girl," is India's first female elephant mahout. She received the award in recognition of her work in animal conservation and for overcoming gender stereotypes to create opportunities for herself in a traditionally male-dominated field.

January 25, 2024
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