amending section 43 of WPA 1972

[Guest guest]

An Appeal

 

An organised group of people are secretly smuggling – illegally poached

elephants from other states into Kerala. Kerala has the largest number of

privately owned elephants around 4000. It is astonishing how wild animal

highly protected under schedule I of Wildlife Protection Act 1972 becomes

the private property of a group of people with only commercial and vested

interests.

 

 

 

Section 43 of W.P.A. Act 1972 and the Declaration of Wildlife

Stock Rules 2003 clearly state that all wild animals/trophies etc. should be

owned/kept as per the rules laid there under.

 

 

 

Kerala has the largest number of captive elephants in India and

the number of them are on the increase due to illegal trafficking. On the

other side a very large number of them are cruelly treated and murdered for

insurance money or tusks or due to old age. The elephants are paraded in

scorching sun on tarred roads, made to stand on chained legs for hours

during festivals and cruelly exploited for physical work like logging etc,

even when they are in must. The elephant owners - a very powerful lobby -

are very innovative to introduce novel methods to exploit elephants. It is a

very lucrative business in Kerala.

 

 

 

It is believed that a parallel economy worth Rs. 300 – 350

crores is now flourishing in Kerala. The more you exploit the animal the

more money you get. So these animals rarely get rest, proper care, food and

water. As a result these elephants get violent and the first casualty is the

mahout - followed by others.

 

 

 

Very few cases are registered against the elephant owners even

though the illegal possession of Schedule I animal itself is a crime.

 

 

 

The most shocking thing that took place recently is the

statement submitted by the union Ministry of Environment and Forests

Government of India, stating that it " has intimated the process of amendment

to section 43 of Wildlife Protection Act " as " the Central Government is

aware of the hardships faced by the citizens of India especially those who

deals with elephants. " (!)

 

 

 

The above statement from the Ministry of Environment and Forests

Government of India, was quoted by the Hon. High Court of Kerala while

delivering the judgment in WP © No. 31503 of 2003 (A) dated 18

August 2007in a case filed by the elephant owners of Kerala.

 

 

 

I request all concerned Indian citizens and those who consider

the sanctity of India being a signatory to the international CITES treaty to

be vigilant and never allow a handful of elephants smugglers and traders to

work hand in glove with the lawmakers of the biggest democracy in the world

to dilute any section of the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972 or any rules

there under.

 

 

 

 

Yours sincerely

 

 

 

 

A.G. Babu

 

 

Secretary

 

 

Idukki SPCA