The Hindu : Karnataka News : Elephant lovers’ association flays Yeddyurappa’s offering of elephant

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Thursday, Nov 06, 2008
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Karnataka

Karnataka

Elephant lovers’ association flays Yeddyurappa’s offering of elephant

Special Correspondent

KANNUR: Thrissur-based Elephant Lovers’ Association (ELA) has termed as violation or wildlife rules the Karnataka Chief Minister’s offering of an elephant to the Rajarajeswara Temple at Taliparamba here.

ELA secretary Venkitachalam called for action against all officials and political leaders responsible for what he called an ‘illegal transfer’ and offering of the captive elephant in violation of the Wildlife protection Act 1972, the Wildlife Stock Declaration Rule 2003 and the Kerala Captive Elephant Management and Maintenance Rule 2003.

He said that an interim order issued by the High Court on November 23 last year had given a direction to the Chief Wildlife Warden not to allow transfer of elephants into the State from other States until further orders as a litigation was pending in the Division Bench of the High Court.

Mr. Venkitachalam said that he e-mailed a representation to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who is chairman of the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) to take immediate action and order the Wildlife wing of the Union Ministry of Forest and Environment for immediate seizure and transfer of the elephant to the place of its birth.

When contacted, Chief Wildlife Warden J.K. Tiwari told The Hindu that he had not given permission to any person for the transfer of the elephant to the temple. As per the guidelines under the Act any transfer of elephants as gift or exchange required advance permission from the Chief Wildlife Warden.

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