In a story recalled by wildlife filmmakers Krupakar and Senani, Veerappan condemned the way people capture, exploit and kill elephants, then told them a fable about elephants choosing to remain in the natural world. The account is an edited excerpt from the filmmakers’ book, not a recorded transcript—and the authors say they remained unsure whether his words were sincere or meant to win them over.
How the filmmakers came to hear the story
Scroll published the account on May 30, 2016, as an edited excerpt from Birds, Beasts and Bandits: 14 Days with Veerappan, written by Krupakar and Senani, translated by journalist S. R. Ramakrishna and published by Penguin Books. The two filmmakers recall that Veerappan kidnapped them and Bengali professor Dr Maithi in 1997, apparently mistaking them for important government officials. They say the group was held for about two weeks before being released.
The scene in the excerpt begins with Veerappan looking through a National Geographic magazine and an illustrated book about elephants. The exchange that follows is presented as the filmmakers’ retrospective memory of the conversation.
What Veerappan said about elephants
Senani asked Veerappan about reports that he had killed around 2,000 elephants. Veerappan rejected the figure as a lie. The filmmakers suggest in their account that the number may have been exaggerated, while still believing that he had killed elephants. The excerpt does not establish a verified tally, so neither the allegation nor the denial should be treated as a confirmed count.
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In the filmmakers’ recollection, Veerappan criticized human treatment of elephants: capturing and selling them to circuses, torturing them for profit, and killing them for ivory and other body parts. He told a fable in which the gods decided to leave Earth after humans appeared. The elephants declined to go with them, saying they were unafraid of humans and loved the forests, rivers, flowers and skies. The remembered story ends with Veerappan lamenting the elephants’ plight: “Look what has become of the elephants now.”
Later, Senani said few large male elephants remained in Bandipur and asked Veerappan not to kill elephants for ivory. As recounted by the authors, Veerappan replied that he had not killed elephants for many years, claimed to possess two pairs of old tusks, and described an alleged encounter involving other ivory poachers. He also said other gangs were active and that he was blamed for their crimes. These are claims in a remembered conversation, not independently verified findings.
The authors’ account leaves his motives unresolved
Krupakar and Senani do not present the exchange as proof that Veerappan was a protector of elephants. They say they were not completely taken in by his unusual discourse and wondered whether he was trying to win them over. Their account holds two things in view: his compassionate-sounding words about elephants and their awareness of his alleged violence and reputation connected to ivory. It does not settle whether the speech reflected sincere feeling, persuasion, or both.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Where to read the full account
Scroll’s 2016 edited excerpt is the source for this anecdote. The longer account appears in Krupakar and Senani’s book, Birds, Beasts and Bandits: 14 Days with Veerappan.
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