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 gross violation of Wildlife Protection Act 1972, Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1960 and other animals related laws

Photograph evidence attached

with PAWS-Mumbai Letter

On 10 October 2012, Plant & Animals Welfare Society – Mumbai (PAW-Mumbai) Office have send letter to various authorities like Shri. Praveen Pardeshi – Principal Forest, Shri. R.K.Pole – Chief Conservator of Forest (Thane)  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 Indian Elephant is listed at S. No. 12-B in Schedule – 1 of the Wildlife (Protection) Amendment Act 2002. It seen that Elephant which are been seen in streets of Mumbai, Thane, Vasai, Navi Mumbai and Kalyan area are been violation of Section 2(7A) read Section 2 (39), 38 H, 42 of Wildlife (Protection) Amendment Act, 2002. Most of the owners not have any valid ownership certificate from Forest Department of Maharashtra and event not take Transit Permits under the Indian Forest Act, 1927 too.

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.
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.
9.       The owner sells the tail hairs as good – luck charms

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.       Direct 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.       Seize the elephants which are made to beg on the streets and transfer them to the nearest forest (such as “Sanjay Gandhi National Parks” etc.). The mahout can be sent with elephant and use it for patrolling, tourism etc. The mahout would be better off in such National Parks as they would the not have to walk on our tarred/ concrete roads and also that they would be taken care of by the medical team of such Parks.
8.       Kindly ensure that mahout should given some sort of employment as per their expertise in the forest or elsewhere. They could be given the job of care and welfare of such elephants.
9.       Funding of such “elephant camp” in National Parks should be funded by Project Elephants / Central Zoo Authority / State Forest Department.

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 Letters send to various law enforcements authority

PAWS-Mumbai Letter No. PAWS-Mumbai/SJ-BI/17/2012 Dated 10 October 2012 to Shri. R.K.Pole – Chief Conservator of Forests (Thane)

PAWS-Mumbai Letter No. PAWS-Mumbai/SJ-BI/18/2012 Dated 10 October 2012 to Shri. Praveen Pardeshi – Principal Secretary Forest

Second Page of Letters

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