Thiruvambadi and Paramekkavu Devaswoms, the main participants of the famous Thrissur Pooram, have denied the allegations of violation of animal rights during the conduct of recently held Pooram.
The response was against the backdrop of report submitted by the Animal Welfare Board of India in the Supreme Court that the elephants paraded for Pooram were subjected to mental and physical torture. The report alleged that the State government and the festival organisers had flouted almost all rules during parading of the captive elephants.
The Supreme Court has asked the State Government to respond on the alleged violation of animal rights during the conduct of the Pooram.
In a joint press release, the Devaswoms noted that they were shocked at the report of the Animal Welfare Board of India submitted at the SC about alleged harassment of the elephants.
“We are against harassment of elephants. The Devaswoms followed the rules and regulations of the Kerala High Court and the Kerala Captive Elephants Management and Maintenance Rule during conduct of Pooram. We had provided food, water, fruits and other facilities for elephants during the parading. They were provided with wet carpet under the feet if they had to stand more than 20 minutes. Pandals were constructed to give them shade. A team of 40 experts, including veterinary doctors, examined the fitness of the elephants before parading them at the festival," they said.
They insisted that there were no harassment occurred during the conduct of Pooram this time. Many TV channels were running live broadcast of Pooram celebrations.
“One of the allegations by the Animal Welfare Board was that the elephants were chained during parading. We are not familiar with a method in which animals are not chained for the parading of festivals,” they noted.
Another allegation was the elephants were not registered with the Board.
According to the legal advice given to us, parading of elephants for Pooram does not come under the category of performance. So it does not need such registration, the devaswoms pointed out.
One of the allegations by the Animal Welfare Board was that the elephants were chained during parading. The devaswoms, in a press release, said they were not familiar with a method in which animals are not chained for festivals.
