THRISSUR: The Central government has issued an order allowing inter-state transportation of captive elephants through a Gazette notification on Thursday.
Paramekkavu Devaswom, one of the organisers of Thrissur Pooram, which took the initiative to bring in an amendment to the Wildlife Act, has welcomed the Central government’s move that came ahead of the announcement of Lok Sabha elections.
The shortage of captive elephants has been a major concern for festival organisers here. In Thrissur Pooram alone, close to 100 elephants are needed for various rituals. The latest development will benefit Thrissur Pooram as the organisers have already begun preparations right from booking elephants to making parasols for the parade.
The Gazette notification states that captive elephants can be transported to other states after a thorough fitness examination. A veterinary expert should examine the elephant and issue a fitness certificate. The owner of the elephant should file an application along with the veterinary expert’s report to the Chief Wildlife Warden of the state to which the elephant is transported. The Chief Wildlife Warden, within seven days, should forward the application to an officer not less than the rank of deputy conservator of forest.
The transfer will be allowed only under three circumstances. The first is that the owner should no longer be in a position to maintain the elephant. The transfer can be done if the elephant can get a better upkeep compared to the present circumstances.
The third condition is that the Chief Wildlife Warden should deem it fit and proper in the circumstances of the case considering the better upkeep of the elephant.
The notification also makes it mandatory that the elephant should be accompanied by a mahout and an assistant. A certificate of fitness stating that the elephant was not in musth and its health condition is suitable for transportation should be obtained from competent authorities. The captive elephant should also be put under quarantine for a specific period after the transportation.
Welcoming the move, Paramekkavu Devaswom secretary G Rajesh said that it would be of great help for festival organisers as an acute shortage of elephants is being felt in the state. “The elephants that are in good health at present are being stressed due to the shortage. With the new notification, the scenario will change. We have already made plans to bring in elephants from other states as and when the guidelines come into force,” he said.
Rajesh had met Bhupender Yadav, Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, raising the matter. Actor Suresh Gopi, during his term as Rajya Sabha MP, had also demanded to make inter-state transfer of elephants legal.
