Guest guest Posted March 23, 2009 Report Share Posted March 23, 2009 Tortured existence Sivadas Varma<http://www.expressbuzz.com/edition/searchresult.aspx?AliasName=WEtJLztfHtA\ ZGO8DxHbtMw==> First Published : 23 Mar 2009 12:45:00 AM IST Last Updated : 23 Mar 2009 11:41:34 AM IST KOCHI: After the death of Chalakkal Mohanan, another young tusker, Gajendran awaits death due to prolonged starvation. The tusker who attacked its first mahout, now under treatment, was abandoned by the other mahouts in a compound near Kumbalam. Exposed to the sun, Gajendran has been denied food and water for many days. It is a well known fact that elephants need a continuous supply of fodder and thousands of litres of drinking water for sustenance besides an elaborate bath with proper massage. Since the festival season, elephant brokers have grabbed the right to lease the tuskers for various temple festivals, by giving lakhs of rupees to their owners. This deal between the owners and brokers has led to the present plight of the tuskers and their mahouts. To reap the maximum benefit from the amount given to the owners, the brokers have charted a rigorous work schedule for the tuskers. As part of the schedule, the tuskers are taken for processions in temples located far and wide. Within seconds of completion of a procession these tuskers are transported to the next destination by truck, without sufficient rest or food. The condition of the mahouts is no better than that of the tuskers. They too are denied a chance to relax and on the few occasions they get a break to go home the tuskers are tied in a nearby compound. In a similar incident it was the devotees who provided a tusker, which was tied at the premises of Thamaramkulangara Sree Dharmasastha Temple, with water and fodder. Unfortunately the tusker grew intolerant of these cruelties and attacked its mahouts, killing one of them. With the death or ailment of the main mahout the tuskers are either abandoned or put under the care of another mahout (Ketti Azhikkal). Both conditions are disastrous, leading to the death of the elephants from injuries caused by the Ketti Azhikkal or prolonged starvation. The situation gets worse in summer as they do not have sweat glands to control their body temperature. The solution is to bathe them daily followed by a strong massage with coconut husk. Erandakettu (constipation) and prolonged starvation are the two extremes that lead to the sudden death of an elephant. Unfortunately these happen due to the criminal negligence shown by man towards these creatures which are mercilessly abused during temple processions. Gajendran, tied in the Kacheri Parambu of Kochi Devaswom Board near Kumbalam, depends on the mercy of elephant lovers and devotees to sustain its very life. Timely intervention may save the life of the otherwise hapless tusker. *sivadasvarma* Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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