KOCHI: With Thrissur Pooram around the corner, a petition has been filed before the Kerala High Court against the traditional parading of elephants.
The petition, filed by the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA India), New Delhi, has sought directives to the Central Government and the State Government to ensure that no elephant is paraded or exhibited in Thrissur Pooram without permission from the Animal Welfare Board of India. The petition will come up for hearing tomorrow.
The petitioner submitted that under Section-23 of the Kerala Captive Elephants (Management and Maintenance) Rules - 2003 and the provisions contained in the Rule make it mandatory that elephants be exhibited or used for performance only if their owners are registered with the Animal Welfare Board of India. The Board stated that none of the elephants in Kerala has been registered as per the Act and Rules so far. Hence, no elephant can be paraded or exhibited in the Thrissur Pooram to be held on Wednesday.
The petitioner sought a declaration that elephants would not to be exhibited, paraded or used for performance in festivals, including the pooram, or any such event in the State without registering them under provisions of the Performing Animals (Registration) Rules - 2001; obtaining permission from the Animal Welfare Board of India and complying with stipulations under the Kerala Captive Elephants Rules - 2003.
On the concluding day of the Pooram festival over hundred elephants are made to stand throughout the day under the scorching sun. As a matter of fact, the use of hundreds of Indian elephants in Thrissur Pooram does not have any historical, cultural or religious basis. The animals are paraded or made to perform to satisfy the ego of the various temple committees.