Kerala starts whining on Central Zoo Authority Elephant order(Expected though)

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Zoo

pachyderm release should be closely monitored: Experts

 

 

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(Source: IANS)

Published: Thu, 19 Nov 2009 at 13:58 IST

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Thiruvananthapuram: The release of zoo elephants into wildlife parks should

be closely monitored as they could end up creating difficulties for their

peers in the wild, say experts in Kerala, which has a large number of

pachyderms.

The Central Zoo Authority had last week sent an order to chief wildlife

wardens in the country asking that zoo elephants be moved to national parks,

wildlife sanctuaries and tiger reserves so that the animals have more space

to move around and graze.

 

 

But veteran elephant expert Jacob Cheeran said this should be done

cautiously.

 

 

" Tuberculosis and herpes are two diseases that several zoo elephants suffer

from and if they are let out and get into contact with wild elephants, then

the diseases will be transmitted from these captive elephants to wild

elephants, " said Cheeran.

 

 

State Chief Wildlife warden K.P. Ouseph said a copy of the new order would

be sent to the culture department that looks after zoos in the state. He

said there are five elephants in the two zoos of Kerala and around 140 in

various zoos in the country.

 

 

Arun Zachariah, veterinary officer of the state forest department at

Wayanad, said elephants that are reintroduced into parks and reserves should

first be subjected to intensive check ups.

 

 

" First of all, elephants in zoos should undergo proper and detailed medical

checkups and they have to be observed closely. Then there should be an

acclimatisation programme for these zoo elephants before they are finally

let open into the parks and sanctuaries. If not, it could create more

problems for wild elephants also, " said Zachariah.

 

 

Besides the five zoo elephants, Kerala has around 600 captive elephants that

are mostly used during religious rituals.