Monday 23 November 2009

PAWS-Mumbai Letter to Law Enforcement Agency on Usage of Elephants in Mumbai, Thane, Vasai, Navi Mumbai and Kalyan area’s for begging which is banned as per Circular No. D-8(4)/WLP/OW/128/07-08, Thane 400 603, Dated 24/7/2007 of Chief Conservator of Forest Thane


Photograph evidence attached with
PAWS-Mumbai Letter along with
News Paper Articles and Citizen Complaints
(by SMS, E-Mail, Letters)
On 23 November 2009, Plant & Animals Welfare Society – Mumbai (PAW-Mumbai) Office have send letter to various authorities like Principal Chief Conservator of Forests / Chief Wildlife Warden  (Department of Forest, Govt. of Maharashtra, Nagpur) and Director General of Police – Maharashtra State and copy of it have been forwarded to Shri Jairam Ramesh – Minister of Environment & Forests Govt. of India, Smt. Maneka Gandhi (MP) Chairperson : People for Animals, Shri. Sanjay Dina Patil (MP) Mumbai, Dr. Patangrao S. Kadan – Minister for Forests Government of Maharashtra, Shri D. Rajasekar (IFS) Secretary – Animal Welfare Board of India, Dr. Rajesh Gopal – Member Secretary : Central Zoo Authority, Justice Shri. C.S. Dharmadhikari – Chairman : Committee to Monitor Animal Welfare Laws in Maharashtra in regards to Usage of Elephants in Mumbai, Thane, Vasai, Navi Mumbai and Kalyan area’s for begging which is gross violation of Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 and other animals related laws.

The brief letter written by PAWS-Mumbai ………………………..

This is to bring to your notice that despite the order of CCF-Thane vide the above mentioned Circular, there is widespread usage of Elephants for the purpose of begging in these area.

The other problems created for the animals and citizen are :

1.       The Elephants are made to walk for long distance without adequate food and water on Tar road.

2.       The Elephants are made to walk long distance at night time too.

3.       The Elephants cause traffic jam while they are being taken from one place to another.

4.       The noise due to vehicular traffic and crackers increase the stress levels of the Elephants.

5.       The Elephants do not get proper medical treatment by their hander when they become sick or injured.

6.       Minor children are made to sit over Elephants and beg along with these animals.

7.       It is hazardous to make the Elephants walk in public as they may come in “Musth”, thus risking the life and property of citizen. In past there was elephant “Laxmi” was met with an accident and later she died.

8.       The handlers / owners of the Elephants themselves are poor. Thus it is very unlikely that they would be able to feed or taken proper care of these meg-herbivores who require adequate food and medication to live well.

This is to inform you that often concerned citizens and animal lovers complain to the Police & Forest Department against this ill-treatment of elephants but seldom is any action taken against the handlers / owners of these poor animals.

So we request you do the following to prevent ill-treatment and harm to the Elephants :

1.       Direst the Police, Local Forest Staff to take appropriate penal action against the violator, handlers or owners of these animals.

2.       Ensure that ownership license of the handlers or owners are revoked. 

3.       Constitute an Elephant Welfare Committee (comprising of Police, Forest officials and representative of animal welfare organizations) who would direst a team of Elephant handlers to transfer apprehended animals to hospitals / wildlife parks / Elephants Camps.

4.       Expert “Mahouts” be made to take care of these apprehended Elephants in the National Parks / Wildlife Sanctuaries and paid for the same.

5.       Direct the Police Commissioner and CCF to educate all their subordinates about the laws concerning the welfare and Elephants and other animals.

6.       Make the officials manning the various check-posts (of Police, BMC and Forest Departments) to prevent entry of unauthorized animals into city limit.

7.       We as a citizen of India want to see laws should implement on ground not want it only on paper.

In the larger interest of the mute and suffering animals, we request to you to take urgent steps to prevent abuse and ill-treatment of such animals.
 
Copy of PAWS-Mumbai Letter send to various law informants authority

NOTE : To view larger image please double click on it

Saturday 7 November 2009

CZA New Delhi Circular

Central Zoo Authority - New Delhi

File No. 7-5/2006-CZA (Vol.II)
Dated the 7th November 2009
CIRCULAR

Subject :  Banning elephants from zoo collections

Time and again, it has been brought to the notice of this Authority that the housekeeping of elephants in zoos leaves a lot to be desired, causing trauma to the animal. Elephant is a large mega herbivore, which is free ranging, cruising over long distances. There are very few zoos in the country, which has adequate space to permit free movement of elephants, as a result of which they are kept chained for long hours, causing stress to the animal. Further, more often than not, such captive elephants in zoos hardly breed. There are instances of zoo elephants coming in ‘Musth’ causing serious threats to visitors. The Zoo management also has tremendous financial liability for the day-to-day maintenance / housekeeping of elephants. There is very little scope for ex-situ linage in the context of zoo elephants in India.

Considering the above, the following directives are issued:

(i)                Elephants are banned from zoo collections throughout the country with immediate effect. All captive elephants in zoos should be rehabilitated in elephant camps / rehabilitation camps / facilities available with the forest department at National Parks / Wildlife Sanctuaries / Tiger Reserves for departmental use.

(ii)              The guidelines / precautions issued by this Authority for transporting zoo animals, time and again, should be strictly followed. The programme for transporting elephants should be drawn up in consultation with Chief Wildlife Warden of the State, under whose supervisory control the said process should be conducted.

(iii)            The Central Zoo Authority would bear the cost for transportation of elephants in this regards, based on a proposal through the Chief Wildlife Warden of the State.

(Dr. Rajesh Gopal)
Member Secretary