Forest rangers and Kunki elephants performed yoga together at Jaldapara National Park in West Bengal to mark International Yoga Day [1].

The event serves as a public demonstration of the bond between mahouts and the animals they manage. By integrating a wellness practice into the forest environment, the park officials aimed to showcase a philosophy of harmony between humans and wildlife [1], [2].

The celebration took place on June 21, 2026 [1]. The activities occurred within the Alipurduar district, where the rangers, known as mahouts, engaged with the elephants in a series of coordinated movements [1], [2].

Reports on the specific nature of the yoga session vary. Some accounts said that the forest staff and their elephants simply stood together during the practice [1]. Other reports said that the rangers performed yoga while seated atop the elephants [2]. Despite these differences in posture, the core objective remained the promotion of peaceful coexistence.

Kunki elephants are specially trained animals used by forest departments for various operational tasks, including rescue missions and patrolling. The use of these animals in a yoga demonstration highlights the high level of trust and synchronization required between the mahout and the elephant — a relationship that is central to the management of the national park [1], [2].

The event was shared via video by an Indian Forest Service officer, bringing regional attention to the practices of the Alipurduar district staff [2]. The imagery of the rangers and elephants practicing mindfulness in the forest is intended to remind the global community that yoga is about more than exercise; it is about balance and connection with the natural world [1].

“The event serves as a public demonstration of the bond between mahouts and the animals they manage.”

The use of Kunki elephants in public wellness demonstrations reflects a strategic effort by Indian forest services to humanize wildlife management. By framing the mahout-elephant relationship through the lens of yoga and harmony, the administration promotes a positive image of conservation and animal husbandry in the Alipurduar district.