THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The deadline set by the forest department for elephant owners in the state to provide a proper resting place, with sufficient shade, for captive elephants under their care expired on Friday.
On May 14, the chief wildlife warden issued a circular laying down the specifications of such a tethering place and setting a deadline of three months. Failure will invite cancellation of ownership rights and heavy penalty.
The Elephant Owners’ Federation, though they speak of practical difficulties, has fully backed the move. “There are no two ways about granting shelter to elephants, we have no arguments with the government move. All our members have been asked to adhere to the deadline,” said Sasi, a top office-bearer of Elephant Owners’ Federation.
“Originally, the requirement was for a proper shade, which is a must. Shade has now become shed, which will require more space and money,” Sasi said.
Punishment: Any owner failing to provide housing within the deadline will be fined Rs 25,000. Any delay after that will be fined at the rate of Rs 500 for each day for the first 15 days, Rs 1,000 per day for the next 15 days, Rs 2,000 per day for the next 15 days and Rs 4,000 per day for the next 15 days.
After this, a case will be registered. In addition, the department will also cancel the ownership certificate, microchip certificate and data book.
However, elephant lovers say that the deadline has generally been ignored. “I have already filed a written complaint to the forest department saying that no shelters have been provided to elephants used for safaris in Idukki and Palakkad districts,” said M. N. Jayachandran, state Wildlife Board member.
V. K. Venkitachalam of Thrissur-based Heritage Animal Task Force said that on Friday, the day the deadline expired, five elephants under the custody of Kochi Devaswom were found on the premises of the Devaswom fully exposed to the elements.
Federation’s Sasi said that it would not be easy for bodies like Devaswoms, which have a large number of elephants in their possession, to construct the kind of shelters prescribed by the department.
Venkitachalam said that it was also found that even private owners keep their elephants in neighbouring compounds, which he terms as a dangerous trend.
