THRISSUR: After a spate of allegations of rules violations and uncertainties over the smooth conduct of Thrissur Pooram, the authorities are in trouble again after the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) filed a report in the Supreme Court alleging that the Thrissur Pooram was conducted by violating various rules and court orders.
The inspection report filed in the court said the AWBI inspection team had found elephants suffering from wounds that were deliberately hidden with black material, impaired vision and cracked nails were paraded and the team also found use of banned torture devices such as ankushes in the Pooram.
The elephants were found to be chained by all four legs and forced to stand for many hours, with no protection from the scorching sun, and they were not given sufficient drinking water. Out of the 67 elephants paraded, 31 were found to be apparently illegal because of their custodians’ lack of a valid ownership certificate, which is mandatory as per the Wildlife Protection Act (WPA), 1972, the report said. The reports say that since the elephants used were suffering from various ailments, the fitness certificate issued by a team that included officials from the Kerala Forest and Wildlife Department and veterinarians from Kerala’s Animal Husbandry Department is apparently illegitimate. The report, which includes photographs and videos, states that the elephants were subjected to cruelty in apparent violation of the orders of the Supreme Court, the Kerala High Court and various animal-protection laws.
The report also said the Thrissur Pooram authorities denied permission to the AWBI-authorised team to inspect the elephants in the fitness-check camp. However, the team managed to inspect the elephants during the parade. The report demands that the state government repeat the health examination of all 67 elephants and calls for necessary action based on their fitness and legitimacy of ownership as per the law.
The report also lists the reasons justifying the need for registering the elephants with the AWBI under the Performing Animals (Registration) Rules, 2001, instead of the district committee of Thrissur. M N Jayachandran, the AWBI nominee to the district committee and also a member of the AWBI inspection team, has officially lodged a complaint with the state government calling for disciplinary action against the erring officials for denying AWBI inspectors access to the fitness camp on April 16.
“Cruelty is inherent when wild animals such as elephants are kept in captivity through the use of chains and then exposed to fireworks, loud drumming and a crowd of thousands while being paraded for entertainment”, says PETA India Director of Veterinary Affairs and member of the Kerala State Animal Welfare Board Dr Manilal Valliyate.
What the Rules Say
April 18, 2015: The Supreme Court states that if any owner, organiser or festival or temple coordination committee treats elephants cruelly, the offender will be held liable for contempt
April 14, 2016: The Kerala High Court directs that “no elephant which is found unfit to participate in the ceremonial parade shall be utilised and the District Magistrate will ensure that the use of any such animal is clearly excluded”
The wildlife warden had directed the Thrissur Pooram organisers on the eve of the Pooram not to parade elephants from 10 am to 5 pm. However, the Forest Minister relaxed the provisions in the Kerala Captive Elephant Maintenance Rule.
The High Court had imposed a ban on fireworks display at night in the wake of the Kollam tragedy. But the Pooram was conducted by making use of an apex court order received by the organisers in 2007.
■ April 18, 2015, Supreme Court stated that if any owner, organiser, or festival or temple coordination committee treated elephants cruelly, the offender would be held liable for contempt.
■ April 14, 2016, Kerala High Court directed that “no elephant which is found unfit to participate in the ceremonial parade shall be utilised and the District Magistrate will ensure that use of any such animal is clearly excluded.