THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, 10 May 2008 — Elephants in Kerala would now be carrying nameplates, besides microchips implanted to keep track of their health records.
According to guidelines issued by the Forest and Wildlife Department of the state, a plate mentioning the name of the elephant and its owner would be hung around the animal’s neck.
Mahouts should also keep a register of the elephant’s trips, diseases it suffered, vaccines taken, the food it eats everyday and the work it carries out. They should carry these records for officials to inspect whenever they want.
These measures are being taken to prevent elephants from turning violent. According to official estimates, elephants in captivity have killed at least 21 people during the past three months.
The authorities have decided to enforce strictly a 2003 law enacted by the state legislative assembly on maintenance and management of captive elephants. However, the norms were being violated while parading elephants at temple festivals and public functions.
The F&W Department has suggested formation of district-level committees headed by district collectors for enforcing the law and ensuring the safety of the pachyderms.
The committees will have the district police chiefs, a member of the Society for Prevention of Cruelty Against Animals, representatives of festival committees, vets and fire force chief as its members.
The owners should also obtain a valid health certificate from a veterinarian to show that the animal is fit to travel by road and take part in a parade and it is free of infections and contagious diseases before transporting the animal.
There are people who are totally opposed to “domesticating” elephants. “These are wild animals which are going to face extinction soon. They should be released into a sanctuary where they can live in a natural environment,” said P. Balan, whose documentary on elephants in captivity, The 18th Elephant-Three Monologues, won international accolades.
But people in Kerala continue to be enchanted by their beauty and flock the temples to watch the richly-caparisoned elephants during annual festival processions.
