Alappuzha: The Heritage Animal Task Force (HATF) has lodged a complaint with the chief wildlife warden and the chief secretary regarding the parading of an elephant in musth at a temple festival at Ezhupunna near Alappuzha two days ago, when it ran amok.
According to Mr V. K. Venkitachalam, secretary, HATF, a Thrissur-based NGO working for the rights for animals, the elephant, Unnippillil Ganesan, ran amok during the parade at Sree Narayanapuram temple, Ezhupunna.
“Elephant contractor Unnippillil Hari of Kottayam district rented out the elephant to the Vembanad Group. The animal was again rented out to another contractor, Venu of Ezhupunna,” Mr. Venkitachalam said.
The Aroor police said, “the mahout chained and administered tranquiliser and shifted it to a safe place averting a mishap immediately after it showed musth while parading. No untoward incidents occurred,” they said.
Unnipillil Ganesan, according to Mr Venkitachalam, was illegally paraded while musth was flowing from its glands between the ear and eyes. “Bringing an elephant like this to any festival is illegal as it is dangerous for the other elephants and the crowd,” he said in the complaint.
Another elephant, Unippillil Kesavan, kept by Hari had also ran amok twice near Chavakkad in Thrissur district last week. The name of the elephant was illegally changed to Palakkad Puthur Devinandan, Mr Venkitachalam alleged. Mr. Fen Antony, Alappuzha, assistant conservator of forest, said that the department was unaware about the incident.
