The elephant squad in the district continues to be bogged down by several hurdles, many of which affect its efficiency in dealing with exigencies.
While the Animal Husbandry Department has ensured the maintenance of a squad in technical terms, its functioning leaves much to be desired with the team often facing the wrath for delays in attending to emergency situations, mostly when captive elephants run amok.
However, to their credit, the members of the squad continue to undertake their responsibilities admirably despite facing various risks and having no risk cover for their services that are considered voluntary in nature.
In the absence of a dedicated team based at a particular centre, veterinarians posted in various parts of the district are forced to assemble at the District Veterinary Centre at PMG Junction and proceed to the location of exigency with the necessary equipment, including tranquilizer gun.
The difficulty in gathering the team sometimes leads to situations where they are unable to attend to situations reported from rural areas.
A few weeks ago, it took the squad around four hours to reach the spot near Parassala where a tusker had killed its mahout.
“Many a time, the existing mechanism leads to long-standing delays with veterinarians finding it difficult to reach the city in short time. However, the shortage of personnel has left the department with no option but to continue with the existing practice,” an informed source said.
While several veterinarians have undergone training for the purpose at the College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences in Mannuthy, Thrissur, many among them are reluctant to offer their services for the squad.
Prime among the many reasons is the lack of facilities for the purpose.
No risk allowance
“Since the tragic death of C. Gopakumar (the veterinary officer who was killed during an attempt to tranquilize a captive elephant at Vaipur in Pathanamthitta in 2015), not many have volunteered for the squad’s activities. Besides, there is no provision for risk allowances despite a demand before the previous Pay Commission,” an official pointed out.
According to District Animal Husbandry Officer S. Rajendran, every possible effort is made to ensure the presence of the squad members at major events such as temple festivals, in which elephants are widely paraded.
Unforseen incidents
“Prior information regarding such programmes help us adopt adequate arrangements. However, in the case of unforeseen incidents, the squad requires time to reach the spot,” he said.
Efforts are on to replicate the successful arrangement in Kollam where the activities of the elephant squad are being undertaken by the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
Besides this, a proposal for having a dedicated squad in taluk is also being actively considered.
