The Elephant Doctor of India
by Janie Chodosh (Author)
"Dramatic, moving, and packed with fascinating elephant facts, young readers will find inspiration and excitement on every page." --Sy Montgomery, author of The Soul of an Octopus and Kakapo Rescue
The true story of the last viable Asian elephant population and the man dedicated to saving them. Early on a January morning in 2015, a young bull elephant touched on a sagging electric line in the Paneri Tea Plantation in the Udalgari District of Assam, India. The elephant's soft-padded feet conducted the current and the animal fell, kicking in the mud. The local veterinarian called to the scene thought the tusker was going to die. The forest department warden called the one person who could help: Dr. Kushal Konwar Sarma, India's beloved elephant doctor. The Elephant Doctor of India brings the middle-grade reader into the heart of Assam, a remote land of tea plantations, paddy fields, and ancient forests, to tell the true story of the last viable population of Asian elephants and one man who is dedicated to saving them. Brings Dr. Sarma's incredible story--and the lives of these magnificent animals--to readers in classrooms everywhere
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Kirkus Reviews
A charming and informative work of nonfiction.
School Library Journal
Gr 4-7--Dr. Kushal Konwar Sarma, an innovative Indian veterinarian specializing in the care of elephants, is the purported subject of this title, but the Asian elephant takes the lead in this work that combines adventure, biography, and scientist-in-the-field observations. Chodosh illuminates the life of Sarma through episodes involving various elephants and his groundbreaking work to learn how to treat them and how to encourage their conservation. Stories of Sarma working to save captive and wild elephants are vividly described; scientific information is woven throughout. Black-and-white photographs accompany the text. Readers join rescue missions that are exciting, dangerous, and heartwarming. The plight of the Asian elephant is described in detail. The controversies around keeping these creatures in captivity are openly discussed as well as the challenges of environmental changes that manifested because of tea plantations. Sarma's connection to and empathy for these complicated, engaging animals are infectious. Readers who want to make a connection with the Asian elephant will not be disappointed in this absorbing read. VERDICT This engaging narrative, which is part biography, part veterinary science, and a full appreciation of the Asian elephant, aims to honor the wonder of the elephant and the cultures of the people that share their environment.--John Scott, Friends Sch. of Baltimore
Copyright 2021 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.Review quotes
JNF003070 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Animals | Elephants
JNF038020 - Juvenile Nonfiction | People & Places | Asia
