(IN) Review all 'elephant ownership certificates' in Kerala

[Guest guest]

Respite from torture

 

Express News Service

First Published : 25 Mar 2009 12:27:00 AM IST

Last Updated : 25 Mar 2009 11:46:02 AM IST

 

KOCHI: Finally Gajendran can heave a sigh of relief. District Collector M

Beena on Tuesday ordered an inquiry into the pathetic plight of Gajendran,

the young tusker languishing in pain after being tied up in Kacheri Parambu

of the Cochin Devaswom Board near Kumbalam for almost a week. Acting on news

reports about Gajendran awaiting mercy from animal lovers, the Collector

deputed Kanayannur tahsildar to inquire into the incident and submit a

report.

 

Gajendran was found to be weak due to prolonged starvation. He was chained

for attacking his first mahout and was reportedly showing signs of masth.

Thirumala Devaswom is the owner of Gajendran. When Kanayannur tahsildar Azad

and officials visited Kacheri Parambu to inspect the tusker there was nobody

near him and he was exposed to the elements. The officials gave some fodder

to the tusker. It is a known fact that elephants need a continuous supply

of fodder and enough drinking water for sustenance besides an elaborate bath

with proper massage using coconut

husk especially during the masth period. The mahouts said that the elephant

was given proper care. “We chained the tusker in an isolated location as it

was showing signs of masth. We were providing enough food and water,” they

told the tahsildar. The mahouts claimed they had a medical certificate

showing that the elephant should be in chains for 15 days. The tahsildar has

asked the mahouts to produce the certificate before the authorities as early

as possible. He is yet to contact Thirumala Devaswom officials. “Action will

be taken after verifying the certificate,” said Azad.

 

*kochi*

Tusker hurt as lorry knocks it down

 

First Published : 25 Mar 2009 08:04:24 AM IST

Last Updated : 25 Mar 2009 10:04:44 AM IST

 

KOLLAM: The 40-year-old tusker Gopalakrishnan of Asramam Sree Krishnaswamy

Temple here, sustained serious injuries when a sand-laden lorry knocked it

down in the wee hours of Tuesday. The tusker suffered fractures on both its

hind legs.

 

Another tusker Rajasekharan of Sakthikulangara Temple, and two mahouts also

sustained minor injuries in the accident. The mahouts have been admitted to

a private hospital here.

 

The accident occurred on the NH-47 near Neendakara around 5.30 a.m. Three

tuskers, including Gopalakrishnan, were being taken to the Chavara

Kottankulangara Temple for the Chamayavilakku festival from Thirumullavaram

near here, where all the three tuskers had participated in a temple festival

on Monday night.

 

The lorry, which came in the same direction, hit the backside of the

tusker, which fell into a small pit on the roadside. The lorry also hit the

leg of another tusker in front of Gopalakrishnan. It also sustained injuries

on the leg. The mahouts also fell along with the tusker.

 

Veterinary

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+knocks+it+down & artid=SJFtlQPbDgc= & SectionID=lMx/b5mt1kU= & MainSectionID=wIcBMLGb\

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and Thomas from the SPCA and P.K. Jacob from Daya arrived at the site

and examined the elephants.

 

Around 11 a.m., it was lifted to a lorry with the help of a crane and was

brought to the Asramam Temple for further treatment.

 

The doctors said that the condition of the tusker will be put under

observation for 24 hours.

 

Sakthikulangara police have registered a case and took the driver and the

cleaner of the lorry into custody. The police also seized the lorry with

Tamil Nadu registration (TN 24 V 2449).

 

The driver told the police that the accident occurred when a vehicle came in

the opposite direction failed to dim its lights. Reflectors had been

installed on the tail of the tuskers.

 

 

 

News: ePaper <http://epaper.thehindu.com/> *Condition of tusker critical *

 

Staff Reporter

 

*The 38-year-old animal was hit by a truck on Tuesday *

 

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*

 

Heavy flow of people to see the animal

 

Veterinary team from Thrissur to arrive today

*

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KOLLAM: Veterinary surgeons attending on a tusker that was critically

injured in a road accident here on Tuesday morning are administering fluids

to keep the animal healthy.

 

Veterinary team leader B. Aravind said chances of survival and recovery

continued to be grim.

 

The 38-year-old tusker Gopalakrishnan was seriously injured after it was hit

by a truck on the national highway while being taken for a temple festival.

 

The animal suffered serious internal injuries and possible dislocation in

the accident, said Dr. Aravind.

 

The tusker is owned by Asramam Sri Krishna Swamy Temple. After being brought

to the temple precincts from the accident site on Tuesday, the tusker was

put on sternal recumbency. Since that posture was not advisable for

elephants for long, on Wednesday the animal was put on lateral recumbency.

 

Dr. Aravind said large quantities of electrolytes, dextrose and antibiotics

were being administered intravenously.

 

The administration of these medicines saw considerable reduction in oedema.

Another team of veterinary experts from Thrissur will arrive here on

Thursday to provide a second opinion for further treatment, Dr. Aravind

said. Meanwhile, there is a heavy flow of people to see the animal