THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) had thrown a party of sorts on July 27 to announce the 86th birthday of Dakshayani, the oldest living captive elephant. The function, which paraded the old elephant in full regalia, was also a pitch made by the TDB to the Guinness World Records. However, animal activists have flayed the exhibition of Dakshyayani calling it a violation of Prevention of Cruelty Towards Animals Act.
Even the elephant’s age has come into question. Heritage Animal Task Force secretary V.K. Venkitachalam, in a missive sent to Project Elephant director, said that TDB had not bothered to take the mandatory ownership certificate for the elephant. To secure the certificate, two details had to be furnished; a document to show that the elephant had been inherited, and certificates to establish the date of birth of the elephant.
“No such records exist,” Mr Venkitachalam said. Further, he argued that old elephants were not showpieces. “The Wildlife Protection Act 1972 states that every captive elephant above the age of 65 must be kept out of any kind of parade. All elephants above 65 should be retired and must be kept in a forest-like ambience and should not be subjected to any strenuous activity,” Mr Venkitachalam said. In fact, he said TDB had denied basic facilities for all the 33 elephants, including Dakhayani, under its custody. Animal Welfare Board member M.N. Jayachandran said that the irony of granting Dakshayani the title of ‘gajamuthassi’ was lost on TDB.
“Normally, if a female has to be called a grandmother, she has to first bear her own child. Dakshayani was separated from her herd and had to live alone all these years. Now, after denying her a normal life, to call her ‘muthassi’ is the height of insensitivity,” Mr Jayachandran said. Mr Venkitachalam said instead of forcing Dakshayani into tortuous parades, TDB should immediately remove the chains from its legs and give it the freedom to live life according to its whims.
