Violation of animal rights is in focus again as the season of temple festivals has begun across the district. A case in point is the falling of an elephant in a marshy field at Kadalundi during an ‘Ayyappan Vilakku’ festival on Saturday. Activists have accused festival organisers and officials of turning a blind eye to the illegal transportation of elephants from one district to another.
V.K. Venkatachalam, secretary, Heritage Animal Task Force, told The Hindu on Monday that 37 elephants had been registered with the Assistant Conservator of Forests in Kozhikode district. They were enough to be used for temple festivals across the district. Cheerothu Rajeev, the elephant which fell in the marshy field at Kadalundi, was, however, brought from Thrissur district. “Rajeev has been banned from using in temple festivals in Thrissur. The temple festival organisers must have contacted agents to get elephants at low rates and illegally transported him even while knowing that he is in musth period,” he said.
The elephant reportedly was petrified after hearing the honking of an oncoming train as the festival procession passed by the railway station. The animal ran up to the river bank, and in an attempt to cross the river it fell into the slushy field. It was rescued after herculean efforts by local residents and officials. The elephant was reportedly hungry too.
Mr. Venkatachalam pointed out that it would be difficult to deal with an unregistered elephant if it goes berserk. “The officials will have all the details of a registered elephant, such as its weight, which is a must to tranquillise it if it runs amok. They will be at a loss to deal with an unregistered elephant,” he added. Mr. Venkatachalam has written to the Animal Welfare Board of India, Kerala Chief Secretary, and State Police Chief, accusing the Kozhikode District Collector of failing to convene the statutory monthly meeting of the District Elephant Torture Prevention Committee from November. He alleged that Kozhikode district does not have veterinary surgeons who are familiar with tranquillising elephants too.
