In Kerala none of the elephant owners have Ownership Certificates

[Guest guest]

Whether captive or not ' hunting ' or engaging elephants [into commercial

activities] listed in 12 in SCHEDULE 1 of Indian Wildlife Protection Act

1972, invites severe punishment.

Keralites being the 3% populace of India have already smuggled in to their

state more than 70% of the total captive elephants in india.This happens

because an organised and well-knit mafia of elephant

smugglers,middlemen,corrupt politicians,government officials have joined

together to make it a multi-million business.

It is amazing that a big tusker can bring in more than Rs.30 lakhs p/m. to

its 'owner' during the festival season.These mammoths which cannot be traded

by law is currently priced around Rs.60-70 lakhs in the 'market'.The

festival season starting from December to April are the cruellest months for

the elephants in Kerala as these animals are paraded and travelled all over

Kerala to reap maximum profit from them.The number of elephant deaths have

increased along with the human casualties.

As per WPAct 1972 and Wildlife Stock Declaration Rules 2003 all the elephant

owners should have their own Ownership Certificates issued to them in 2003

itself by the state C.W.W. In Kerala none of the elephant owners possesses

the same but still carry on their cruel trade with impunity.The state has

passed a Rule for Captive Elephants which regularises many of the

'punishable violations' contaned in the Central WPAct 1972 and the Rules.

Now the powerful lobby of Elephant Owners --who otherwise should have found

their places behind the bars with other ordinary poachers--with ample

political patronage [an ex-minister and present M.L.A of Kerala is their

President] have headed for Delhi to get the provisions in the WPAct which

prohibits 'hunting', 'trading' and 'commercially exploiting' elephants

amended or deleted.

I request you to impress upon the Central Minister for Environment & Forests

and the Secretary in the Ministry to deal these poachers with a strong hand

and make steps to book cases against the members and official felicitators

of the elephant mafia.

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Tuesday, Feb 05, 2008

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*A season of woes for elephants *

K. Santhosh

*Animal rights groups express concern over rise in number of elephant

fury *

Thrissur: Animal rights groups have expressed concern over the increasing

number of incidents of elephants turning violent during festivals in the

State.

According to statistics compiled by the Kerala Elephant Lovers’

Association (KELA), 26 elephants had caused panic during festivals and

processions in the last four months in Thrissur alone.

Elephant fury was witnessed at Paramekkavu temple, Pazhanji, Kunnamkulam,

Ponnore, Edakkazhiyur, Pavaratty, Avittathur, Thrikkur Mahadeva temple (two

days), Rudhiramala temple at Mulayam, Kunnamkulam, Pathirapally, Manathala

at Chavakkad and Chattukulam, near Kunnamkulam, in January alone, and at

Vadakkummuri Aravukad Devi temple at Cherthala on February 1.

The elephants that became unruly included Thiruvambadi Kuttisankaran,

Chethallur Ayyappan, Kerangattumana Padmanabhan, Cherpulassery Neelakantan,

Choondal Ganesan, Mangalamkunnu Ayyappan, Guruvayur Seshadri, Mangalamkunnu

Kesavan, Kuttikrishnan, Poabson Rajeevan, Perinthalmanna Mahadevan, Oottoli

Ganapathi, Oottoli Ayyappan, Mannarcaud Devadas, Mannarcaud Mahendran and

Mangalamkunnu Vijayan.

On January 21, an elephant ran amok and left a trail of destruction at

Thrikkur. It ran about 35 km along Puthur, Eravimangalam, Kozhukkuli, Kerala

Agricultural University Farm at Mannuthy, Mulayam Road junction,

Mukkattukara and National Highway 47. It was brought to control at

Kizhakkumpattukara after 18 hours.

Elephants killed 49 persons (44 mahouts and five others) in the State

between August 1, 2006, and March 15, 2007, according to KELA. In all, 147

captive elephants died during the same period.

Unethical treatment

“Unethical treatment provokes elephant fury. Elephants showing signs of

musth are featured at festivals instead of being given rest. Poorly-trained

mahouts are appointed. Instead of regular mahouts, whom the animal obeys,

others are employed. This creates problems. Many of the mahouts suffer from

alcoholism,†said V.K. Venkitachalam, secretary of KELA.

K.B. Ganesh Kumar, former Minister and president of the Kerala Elephant

Owners’ Federation, said his organisation would organise awareness

programmes for mahouts. “The Federation will direct mahouts not to drink

while they are on duty. We also plan district-level squads to prevent

elephants showing signs of musth from being featured in festivals,†he

said.

Animal rights activists alleged that elephants were made to walk long

distances on tarred road, stand unendingly on concrete surfaces and exposed

to the sound of fireworks. The Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, stated that

captive elephants should not be made to stand in the sun between 11 a.m. and

3 p.m. while being displayed in festivals.

According to the Kerala Captive Elephants Management and Maintenance Rules,

2003, elephant owners and mahouts should maintain records of feeding,

vaccination, treatment, work and movement. Daily fitness certificate from

the panchayat and town veterinary officer is a must when the elephant is

transported.

“Obtaining a fitness certificate daily is difficult. It is an impractical

rule,†said Mr. Ganesh Kumar.

On April 10, 2007, the Forest Secretary had written to the Principal

Secretary (Home) and District Collectors, urging them to form district-level

committees to tackle violent elephant behaviour.

Each committee, chaired by the Collector, should include the Superintendent

of Police, people’s representatives and members of animal welfare

organisations.

**

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