THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With the death of 28-year-old Kannamath Devadathan in Kayamkulam, the death toll of captive elephants in the state this year has gone up to eight. Considering the high death rate, Heritage Animal Task Force has petitioned the State Government to ban the transport of elephants in vehicles. According to the NGO, transporting captive elephants for long distances in vehicles without food or water is one of the reasons for indigestion among captive elephants. Indigestion, and consequent impaction, is said to account for most number of captive elephant deaths.
The death of Thiruvambady Shivasundar, a hugely popular elephant, on March 11 was also caused by indigestion. Heritage Animal Task Force secretary V.K. Venkitachalam, in a missive to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, said that the state government should issue an order banning the transport of captive elephants in heavy vehicles like lorries. “The frequent travel in lorries will make live elephants totally tired and their digestion process gets totally paralysed. The situation is made worse when mahouts deny them proper fodder, water and rest,” Venktachalam stated in his missive.
It is usual for popular elephants to be taken around for as many festivals as possible. The beast is made to starve at the festival venue, and then during transport. “It is not given food and water fearing that the elephant might sully the temple premises. After two hours at one festival the beast is mounted on a large freight carrier and transported long distances to another venue. “There are many elephants that are taken to at least three festivals a day,” said Nagarajan Konnoth, a former elephant owner who has turned activist.
“During my time (some seven years back), an elephant that carries the idol used to get Rs 1 lakh to Rs 1.5 lakh. Now I am told a hugely in demand elephant gets '5 lakh for appearing for less than two hours in one festival. So there are elephant owners who make Rs 15 lakh a day by overworking elephants,” Mr Konnoth said. Mr Venkitachalam said that instead of transporting elephants, they should be made to walk. “It is important that they walk some 35 kms a day, but not between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. when the heat is severe,” he said.
The deep suffering that Thiruvambady Shivsundar had gone through was revealed when blocks of faeces, as big as rice sacks, were taken out of its intestines. “Lack of water, food, exercise and rest had caused impaction in the beast and it was unable to eat for over two months,” Venkitachalam said. Normally an elephant need 500 kilograms of leaves (grass, bamboo) and 200 litres of pure water to maintain health.
