(IN) Anthrax: Please help it is urgent

[Guest guest]

Can someone please tell us how to make sure that the anthrax viruses do not

percolate into the only drinking water source of our area?

What steps should be taken to ensure it?

 

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nID=wIcBMLGbUJI= & SectionName=gUhH3Holuas= & show=3

 

Controversy over Elephant's burial

 

Express News Service

First Published : 05 Sep 2009 02:31:00 AM IST

 

KOCHI: The burial of an elephant, which reportedly died of anthrax in

Perumbavoor on Thursday, has kicked up a controversy. There are allegations

that the pachyderm was buried, near the Muvattupuzha river, unscientifically

and could pose a threat of polluting the river, a source of potable water in the

district.

 

The Elephant Lovers Association has demanded an inquiry into the death of

the elephant. It was on Thursday that Unnikrishnan, an elephant owned by a saw

mill owner in Perumbavoor, died.

 

The Forest Department doctors confirmed that the elephant died of Anthrax.

 

'According to the rules, the carcass is the asset of the government and so the

owner of the elephant will lose the right of ownership as soon as it is dead. So

the animal should have been buried in the forest nearest to the place where the

elephant died,' said V K Venkitachalam, Elephant Lovers Association.

 

'Moreover, if the elephant died of Anthrax, burying the elephant near the

river could pollute drinking water used by millions. The Anthrax bacterium

can live for more than two decades,' he said. 'We alerted the forest

officials. But no necessary steps were taken to ensure that the law was upheld,'

he added.

 

But the officials with the forest department said that they acted according

to the rules. 'We called the veterinary doctors of the department and they

confirmed that the pachyderm died of Anthrax. Later, the carcass was buried

at Arakkuzha near Muvattupuzha as per the instructions of the doctors,' said P

Biju, range officer, Kodandu range.

The forest officials say that there was nothing illegal in allowing the owner of

the elephant to bury it at his expense. But those opposing this argument say

that it was against the directive of the Union Government.

 

'According to the directive of the Union Government, the body of the

elephant is the property of the government. So the officials should not have

handed over the carcass to the elephant owner,' said A G Babu, member, State

Animal Welfare Board. The doctors with

the forest department say that the carcass would not pose any threat to the

public health if it is buried in a scientific manner.

 

'If the carcass is buried, it should be in a pit at least six feet deep. It

should be placed on a bed made of lime, said Dr Easwaran.