It is elephant torture festival season in Kerala

[Guest guest]

To

The Special Devaswom Commissioner,

Cochin Devaswom Board,

Thrissur.

 

Sir,

 

Sub: Circular issued regarding increase in 'Ekkam' for elephant

owners from Rs. 2750 to Rs. 4000 for festivals in temples under Cochin

Devaswom Board.

 

Ref: 1. Reports appeared in various media on discussions held with

'owners' and 'agents' of elephants to effect the same.

 

2. Telephonic conversation with you on the subject on the

8thFeb: 2008

 

It has come to our notice that you have signed an

agreement with

'owners' and 'agents ' of some captives elephants in Kerala to effect an

increase in the commercial charges for Ekkam[ceremonial parade of

elephants with human load and all other heavy paraphernalia] from Rs.

2750/- to Rs. 4000/-

 

It is really surprising that a Special Commissioner of Cochin

Board could hold discussions and issue a circular which prima facie is

against the provision of 'commercially exploiting' an animal preserved

under schedule I of the Indian Wildlife Protection Act 1972.

 

Section 39(2) and (3) of W.P. Act 1972 says it would be a

violation if the elephants -brought to temples under your jurisdiction †"

do not posses s the statutory 'ownership certificate' issued in the

prescribed format as per section 42 of W.P.A. Act and the provisions in the

Declaration of Wildlife Stock Rules 2003.

 

Section 43 of the W.P. Act clearly says that " no person having

in his possession captive animal " †" even if he has a valid ownership

certificate †" " shall transfer by way of sale or by nay other mode of

consideration of commercial nature. "

 

As long as the above provision in the said WP Act 1972 and Rules

exist; we request you to be aware of the violations and never be a party, an

accomplice or a comrade in crimes related to the same.

 

We further request you to review the frenzied atmosphere being

whipped up by a vested group of elephant trappers and baiters to

commercially exploit and ill treat the elephants by bribing the 'white

elephants' to commit illegal acts.

 

We request you -as the custodian and the highest officer of a

responsible Kerala Devaswom Board which governs a number of temples-to

strictly follow and uphold the values of Hindu Dharma and to respect and

observe the law of the land.

 

I request you to emulate the noble and empatheticexample shown by the holy

Sanyasins of Varkala Sivagiri who have decided not to continue the cruel and

heretic system of elephant torture from this year onwards.

 

 

Thanking

you

 

 

Yours

faithfully

 

 

A.G. Babu,

 

Secretary. Idukki SPCA

 

.Thursday, February 14, 2008 Updated: 03:53 am . * NEWS*

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Elephant gores mahout to death

*Pioneer News Service | Thrissur*

In a freak incident, Velayudhan, a mahout, was gored to death by an

elephant, Bala on Wednesday morning.

 

The tragic incident occurred at Kumaramkulangara Temple in Kunnamkulam near

here during the wee hours of the morning.

 

The tusker Balu, which is owned by the Guruvayur Dewaswom, was brought to

Kumaramkulangara Temple during its festival in the procession and suddenly

the elephant became violent and tried to move away from the procession.

 

Velayudhan, who was the first mahout of the elephant, tried to control him

but the enraged pachyderm gored him to death in front of the capacity crowd

who were witnessing the temple festival.

 

The tusker was later brought under control after several hours of tiresome

job conducted by the second mahout and other local people.

 

With the temple season in the State in progress the accidents and deaths

involving the elephants have become frequent to see.

 

The elephant lovers are of the opinion that the animals, which are forced

to march on the tarred roads, feel the heat and they are also chained in

front of a capacity crowd during the temple processions.

 

Another factor, which irks the elephants according to experts, is that

these tuskers are not given proper baths, as the distance from one temple to

another is quite long.

 

As it takes time to reach the other temple the elephants are forced to walk

down the road to reach in time, they added.

 

Experts feel that the ignorance on the part of mahouts and elephant owners

that the animals are brought totally different environment and they need

time to adapt themselves aggravate the situation.

 

In most of the cases the mahouts and the owners take the elephants in a

lorry or mini lorry, as the expenditure for this is a bit high. If the

elephants are taken in lorries then there are possibilities of a drastic

reduction in the elephant attacks and deaths related to the attacks from

elephants.

 

Venkitachalam, an elephant lover from Thrissur, is a battling against the

ill-treatment meted out to elephants in the name of festivals and even after

proper mileage given by media his criticisms fell on deaf ears.

 

The elephants are made to march through one festival to another braving

long distances and scorching heat as the huge money acts as a carrot for

mahouts and elephant owners.

 

Sources in a prestigious temple in Thrissur while speaking to *The

Pioneer*said, " The mahouts are supposed to obtain a mandatory

certificate before

allowing the elephants to stand for hours in each temple festival. The

certificates are to be issued by a qualified veterinary surgeon. In most of

the cases the elephant owners themselves make a 'certificate' by writing on

a piece of paper that the elephant is eligible and get it signed by a

retired veterinary surgeon from the Government service even before

conducting any medical check up of the elephants.

 

 

 

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