MADURAI
The Dean of Thanjavur Veterinary Hospital, where Samayapuram temple elephant Masini is currently undergoing treatment, submitted before the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court that the pachyderm was recuperating after treatment.
His report said the overall health condition of the elephant had improved. However, follow-up was required with regard to wounds. He also suggested that the elephant be moved to the shelter home in Mudumalai forests.
Taking cognisance of the submission, a Division Bench of Justices M.M. Sundresh and N. Sathish Kumar adjourned the case till October 31.
The court was hearing the plea of a R. Antony Clement Rubin of Chennai who sought a direction for restoration of the elephant to its natural habitat at Theppakadu camp in Mudumalai forests. He claimed that the elephant had developed behavioural changes after it was moved to Samayapuram temple.
However, an impleading petition filed by S. Muralidharan of Chennai who runs the registered organisation, NCARE, said sending the elephant to the elephant camp would be a risk as Masini, now domesticated, would find it difficult to cope with the wild environment, he said.
