Mysuru: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday visited Theppakadu elephant camp in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve (MTR) in Tamil Nadu bordering Karnataka’s Chamarajanagar district after 22 km safari at Bandipur Tiger Reserve and met with Bomman and Bellie, the inspiration behind the Oscar Award-winning documentary "The Elephant Whisperers".

PM Modi visited Theppakadu elephant camp in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve in neighbouring Tamil Nadu bordering Chamarajanagar district, and interacted with the main stars of the documentary, and also interacted with mahouts and kavadis of the elephant camp.

After sharing many photos from Bandipur Tiger Reserve, PM Modi's videos with the couple from Theppakadu Elephant Camp are now out. Standing beside Bomman and Bellie, PM Modi was seen gently caressing the elephants at the reserve.

Sharing many photos from his meet, PM Modi wrote on Facebook, "What a delight to meet the wonderful Bomman and Belli, along with Bommi and Raghu (sic)."

The Elephant Whisperers, a documentary about a couple's relationship with two orphaned baby elephants named Raghu and Ammu, has become the first Indian production to win the Academy Award for Best Documentary Short. The film is currently available for streaming on Netflix.

Located amidst the picturesque surroundings of the towering Western Ghats on the Mysuru-Ooty highway in Karnataka, BTR is an important part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve that constitutes Karnataka’s Rajiv Gandhi National Park (Nagarahole) to its Northwest, Tamil Nadu’s Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary to its South, and Kerala’s Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary to its Southwest.

Once the private hunting grounds of the erstwhile Maharajas, and nestled in the foothills of the Nilgiris, Bandipur has had a long tryst with tigers.

Over 200 species of birds and a diversity of flora add to its attraction. Bandipur also supports a wide range of timber trees including teak, rosewood, sandalwood, Indian-laurel, Indian Kino tree, giant clumping bamboo

The PM’s safari in Bandipur Tiger Reserve was a part of programmes to mark 50 years of Project Tiger. He interacted with frontline field staff and SHGs involved in conservation activities.

This was PM Modi's 8th visit to poll-bound Karnataka this year, and spent two hours at the wildlife sanctuary.

Tight security cover was thrown in and around Bandipur Tiger Reserve, following the visit of PM Modi on April 9, BTR officials said.

(Using UNI inputs)