BENGALURU: Podma, the illegally trafficked tusker from Assam has been sent back to Kerala. The single tusk elephant was rescued from Chikkamagaluru when he was being transported illegally for timber logging work. The Karnataka Forest department (KFD) closed the case and deemed it as a compoundable offence for transporting the tusker and imposed a fine of `15,000 on the so-called owners.
After a peaceful and restful stay of 21 days in the custody of KFD, Podma was quietly released. The 35-year-old elephant was handed over by the Chikkamagaluru forest division on Saturday midnight and transported from the Mattavara information centre. On June 9, the tusker was rescued by the Chikkamagaluru range forest officials when it was being transported for timber logging work in a coffee estate in Mullianyanagiri area.
Speaking to TNIE, C Jayaram, chief wildlife warden said, the tusker has been released and any further, investigations on the origin or the ownership of the elephant has to be done by the Kerala Forest Department. Preliminary investigations have revealed that the elephant had been transported illegally from Assam to Kerala and further to Karnataka. In fact, no proper records of the animal were available with the owners. The original elephant owner hailed from Assam and the microchip installed in Assam only. But two people - P Koya and Saidalikutty from Kerala claimed ownership although they did not possess any ownership certificate. Further, they had no certificates for sale and transport of Podma from Assam to Kerala.
Wildlife activists in Chikkamagaluru alleged that with a minister and the timber lobby pressurizing the district forest officials, the chief wildlife warden had permitted the release of the animal. G Veeresh added, “The Karnataka forest officials did not make any effort to save the tusker from the ‘Kerala owners and mahouts’ who had abused the animal by starving and ill-treating it. Local forest officials did not book a case against the original owner or the Kerala owners but booked a case against the lorry driver and mahout. How can you close a case when the incident has happened in Karnataka and expect Kerala to investigate?”
With many captive elephants dying and being frequently abused day in and day out in Kerala, there is the need for a high-level inquiry to put a stop to elephant trafficking from Assam to Kerala to Karnataka. All three states and its forest officials need to institute a joint inquiry before another Podma becomes a victim, stress activists.