To,
Chief Conservator
of Forests - Thane
Van Bhavan, Bara
Bungalows Area, Near Microwave Tower,
Kopri Colony,
Thane (East), Thane – 400 603
Subject
: Cruelty on Elephants in the state
of Maharashtra by private owned Elephants owners who bring the Elephants from
other states. Demand Total
Banning of Elephants into the limit of CCF Thane with immediate effect by
implementation of Existing Animal Welfare Laws as per our Constitution of
India
Dear Sir,
Our father of nation Mahatma Gandhi said “The greatness of a nation
and its moral progress can be judged by the way
its animals are treated” and we Indian believe Elephant as a God, but recent death of “Bijli
/ Ramu” elephant in Mulund, Mumbai (Maharashtra) which we strongly believe is
due to use of elephants on streets, crowded area, joy rides, use in marriage
ceremonies and other commercial purpose by their owner without any proper diet
& health care. Bijli is not the first Elephant who has died, in 2006, an
elephant “Roopkali / Laskhmi” too died after being hit by speeding water tanker
on the streets of Chembur, Mumbai (Maharashtra).
The Indian Elephant is listed at S. No. 12-B
in Schedule – 1 of The Wildlife (Protection) Amendment Act 2002. As in Maharashtra
there are not habitats for elephants, so they are brought to CCF Thane from
other states by road ways on foot. Such elephants are taken away from their
natural habitats and forcibly separated from their parents at young age and
thus illegally (maybe legally) brought to towns for commercial purposes. Can
they be given requisite permissions like ownership certificate & transit
permit by Forest Department and allowed to bring to towns for commercial
purpose? We strongly believe not a single elephants in CCF Thane is covered by
Elephant Insurance Policy nor having Certificate of Implantation of Microchip
which is the duty of Forest Department to track the movement of such animals
and even not have any data base of the elephants owned by private people too.
No forest check post staff is keeping a watch of Elephants which are coming
into CCF Thane AREA from other State.
We
learned that all Elephants owners have failed to provide elephant sufficient
food, water or shelter as most of the elephants are seen resting under bridge,
side of roads at night or other public place and even failing to provide health
care because in CCF Thane Area there is No Private or Animal Husbandry
Veterinary Doctor who can treat elephants. Elephants are not given sufficient
exercise too. Such walking on town’s streets for food and
money cannot surly be called “exercise”. In CCF Thane Area, Elephant become
money making business equipment for their owners and 2009 PAWS-Mumbai written a
Suggestion letters to all the law enforcement authority but not received any
response from them. If timely action have been taken against this private
owners we have possible to see “Bijli / Ramu” and “Roopkali / Laskhmi” alive.
Above all the
activities carried out by these owners are violating various animal welfare
laws like Section 2(7A) read with Section 2 (39) 38H,
43 and 42 of Wildlife (Protection) Amendment Act 2002; Wildlife Protection Act
1972; Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Transport of Animals on Foot) Rules
2001; Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1960; Performing Animals Rules, 1973
& 2001; Indian Penal Code 1860. But even after compliant to the Officers of
Forest Department not action are been take against the owners.
So, we as a citizen of India and
animal welfare / rights organisation, demand to you as a HEAD of law
enforcement authority to TOTAL BAN on Elephants (include bringing for festivals) transit into the limit of CCF
Thane with immediate effect by implementation of the existing laws as per our
Constitution of India. It’s time we common citizen, public representative and
our future citizen student and youths should come forward to SAVE JUMBO.
Our observation …..…
Ø The Elephants are
made to walk for long distance without adequate food and water on Tar road.
Ø The Elephants are
made to walk long distance at night time too.
Ø The Elephants cause
traffic jam while they are being taken from one place to another.
Ø The noise due to
vehicular traffic and crackers increase the stress levels of the Elephants.
Ø The Elephants do not
get proper medical treatment by their handler when they become sick or injured.
Ø Minor children are
made to sit over Elephants and beg along with these animals.
Ø It is hazardous to
make the Elephants walk in public as they may come in “Musth”, thus risking the
life and property of citizen.
Ø 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.
Ø The owner sells the
tail hairs as good – luck charms.
Ø It’s seen the Forest
Department have no control over private owned elephant owner.
Our suggestion ……..
Ø Direct the Police,
Local Forest Staff to take appropriate penal action against the violator,
handlers or owners of these animals.
Ø Ensure that ownership
license of the handlers or owners are revoked.
Ø Constitute an
Elephant Welfare Committee (comprising of Police, Forest officials and
representative of animal welfare organizations) who would direct a team of
Elephant handlers to transfer apprehended animals to hospitals / wildlife parks
/ Elephants Camps.
Ø Expert “Mahouts” be
made to take care of these apprehended Elephants in the National Parks /
Wildlife Sanctuaries and paid for the same.
Ø Direct the Police
Commissioner and Chief Conservator of Forests to educate all their subordinates
about the laws concerning the welfare and Elephants and other animals.
Ø Make the officials
manning the various check-posts (of Police, BMC and Forest Departments) to
prevent entry of unauthorized animals into city limit.
Ø 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 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.
Ø 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.
Ø Funding of such “elephant camp” in
National Parks should be funded by Project Elephants / Central Zoo Authority
(CZA) / State Forest Department.
In the larger
interest of the mute and suffering animals, we request you as a Head of law enforcement
authority
to take urgent steps to prevent abuse and ill-treatment of such animals. If
timely action will not taken from your side in future we have to see more “Bijli / Ramu” and “Roopkali
/ Laskhmi” dying on streets of Maharashtra.
Abhijeet Rane
Patron
& Member Advisory Board
Plant
& Animals Welfare Society - Mumbai
President
: Abhijeet Rane Youth Foundation
Sunish Subramanian Kunju
Founder & Secretary : PAWS-Mumbai
Hony. Animal Welfare Officer : AWBI
Editor : Plant & Animal Voice
Document attached :
1.
Copy
of Animal Welfare Laws Leaflet . Page 11 - 12
2.
Photographs
showing real fact condition of elephants in Maharashtra . Page 2, 4, 6 3.
Copy
of Complaint letters . Page
4.
Copy
of Suggestion letters . Page
5.
Copy
of Letter received from Central Zoo Authority
. Page
6.
Copy
of Letter send by Animal Welfare Board of India . Page
7.
Copy
of Letter send by Hon’ble Justice
Shri. C.S. Dharmahikari (Chairman) Committee to Monitor Animal Welfare Laws in
Maharashtra, Appointed by Hon. The Bombay High Court . Page
8.
Newspaper
clippings . Page
