Venita Coelho is an award-winning author, artist and screenwriter who writes for children as well as adults. A winner of the Sahitya Akademi Bal Puraskar , Coelho has also bagged the Hindu Goodreads Award (twice!) for Best Fiction for Children, The Neev Award and the Peekabook Award. Her collection of feminist ghost stories, The Washer of the Dead , was longlisted for the Frank O’ Connor Award. Besides 12 published books, Coelho has had a long career in film and television as a writer, director and producer. Yash Raj Films has recently signed a three-book deal with her for unpublished manuscripts to be turned web-series. Some of her books for children include: · Dead as a Dodo · All of Me · Tiger by the Tail
The mother-calf bond in Asian elephants is an extraordinary relationship built on care, protection, and learning. From birth, a calf depends entirely on its mother for nourishment and safety, staying close to her at all times. The mother uses her trunk and body to guide and comfort her baby, teaching it crucial survival skills like foraging and social interaction. This relationship extends beyond just the mother—other females in the herd, known as allomothers, also play a role in raising the calf. For up to three years, the calf suckles, but even after weaning, it remains deeply connected to its mother, learning migration routes and herd dynamics. This nurturing relationship ensures the calf's survival and shapes the future of the herd.