The saga of wild elephants raiding crops along forest fringes had been a frequent news story. Conventional responsesโfirecrackers, drums, or vehiclesโsoon proved ineffective. Then came the Forest Departmentโs Kumki initiative, which began playing a vital role in guiding wild herds back. Their camp lifeโ bond with mahouts and kavadis, daily routines, strength, and careโcaptures the essence of this initiative, explores K. Umashanker