Inspectors of the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) on Thursday produced in a mobile court the mahout of an elephant seized on Wednesday.
The court imposed a fine of Rs. 1,300. After the fine was paid, both the mahout and the animal were released.
The 48-year-old cow elephant, Rani, was brought to Chennai from Srirangam to perform at a wedding in Mylapore. The animal was transported without obtaining a transit permit from the chief wildlife warden, or a certificate from a practising veterinarian. The animal was also not registered with the Animal Welfare Board of India, under the ‘performing animal’ rules. Under these charges, the SPCA authorities had seized the elephant and its mahout.
