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Photograph evidence
attached
with PAWS-Mumbai Letter
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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
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PAWS-Mumbai
Letter No. PAWS-Mumbai/SJ-BI/17/2012 Dated 10 October 2012 to Shri. R.K.Pole –
Chief Conservator of Forests (Thane)
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PAWS-Mumbai
Letter No. PAWS-Mumbai/SJ-BI/18/2012 Dated 10 October 2012 to Shri. Praveen
Pardeshi – Principal Secretary Forest
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| Second Page of Letters |
NOTE : To view larger image please double click on it
Despite the order of the Chief Conservator of
Forest – Thane vide Circular No.D-8(4)/WLP/OW / 128/ 07-08, Thane
400 603, Dated 24/7/2007, there is
widespread usage of Elephants by Goswami for the purpose of begging in
Bhandup, Mulund & Thane areas. Also
the two elephants are being neglected and abused.
