What are elephant riders called?

What are elephant riders called?

mahoutA mahout is an elephant rider, trainer, or keeper. Usually, a mahout starts as a boy in the family profession when he is assigned an elephant early in its life. They remain bonded to each other throughout their lives.

What is a mahout’s stick called?

The elephant goad, bullhook, or ankus (from Sanskrit aṅkuśa or ankusha) is a tool employed by mahout in the handling and training of elephants. It consists of a hook (usually bronze or steel) which is attached to a 60–90 cm (2.0–3.0 ft) handle, ending in a tapered end.

What is an elephant bullhook?

The bullhook — a rod with a blunt or pointed hook at one end — has been used for centuries to get elephants to do humans' bidding. And although the tool is now associated with some of the worst abuses of the hulking animals and prohibited in several cities and states, it has remained in use at top American zoos.

Why do elephant handlers use bullhooks?

The bullhook, elephant goad, or ankus is a tool used to control, train and handle elephants in captivity. The bullhook is a hook (usually made of steel) which is attached to a long handle and is traditionally used to jab sensitive areas of the elephant's body such as behind the ears, around the anus or on their trunk.