Letter to Forest Minister to kindly arrange to take appropriate action as suggested in the letter by PAWS-Mumbai & inform this committee of the actions taken

Committee Letter addressing to

Maharashtra Forest Minister and Copy

send to Shri. Sunish Subramanian Kunju

On 26 October 2012 Plant & Animals Welfare Society – Mumbai Office received a letter from Committee to Monitor Animal Welfare Laws in Maharashtra (Appointed by Hon’ble the Bombay High Court) Mumbai Letter HCC/AWL/156/12 dated 23^rd October 2012 which is signed by Chairman – Justice Shri. C. S. Dharmadhikari (Retd. Judge of Bombay High Court) Status of Sitting Judge & Hon’ble Minister following to PAWS-Mumbai letter No. PAWS-Mumbai/SJ-BI/14/2012 Dated 18 October 2012 to Shri. Patangraoji Kadam- Minister of Forest, Governmnet of Maharashtra in regards to “Usage of Elephants in Mumbai, Thane, Navi Mumbai, Vasai and Kalyan for begging which is gross violation of Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 and other animals related laws.”

Brief Letter of Committee says……………..

We enclose copy of a letter No. PAWS-Mumbai/SJ-BI/14/2012 Dated 18-10-12 received from Plant & Animals Welfare Society – Mumbai by this Committee.

The letter is self-explanatory and details with the abuse of elephants in various parts of Maharashtra in gross violation of relevant laws.

We request you to kindly arrange to take appropriate action as suggested in the letter by Plant & Animals Welfare Society – Mumbai and inform this committee of the actions taken.

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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 18 October 2012, Plant & Animals Welfare Society – Mumbai (PAW-Mumbai) Office have send letter to various authorities like Secretary – Animal Welfare Board of India, Member Secretary – Central Zoo Authority, Director : Project Elephant, Committee to Monitor Animal Welfare Laws in Maharashtra and Shri. S.W.H.Naqvi (Principal Chief Conservator of Forests – Wildlife)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/14/2012 Dated 18 October 2012 to Committee to Monitor Animal Welfare Laws in Maharashtra

PAWS-Mumbai Letter No. PAWS-Mumbai/SJ-BI/10/2012 Dated 18 October 2012 to Director : Project Elephant

PAWS-Mumbai Letter No. PAWS-Mumbai/SJ-BI/12/2012 Dated 18 October 2012 to Shri. S.W.H.Naqvi – Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (wildlife)

PAWS-Mumbai Letter No. PAWS-Mumbai/SJ-BI/11/2012 Dated 18 October 2012 to Member Secretary – Central Zoo Authority

PAWS-Mumbai Letter No. PAWS-Mumbai/SJ-BI/13/2012 Dated 18 October 2012 to Secretary – Animal Welfare Board of India

Second Page of Letters

 NOTE : To view larger image please double click on it

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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Citizen alerted CP Navi Mumbai about “Cruelty on Elephants in Navi Mumbai”

On 11 March 2012, Plant & Animals Welfare Society – Mumbai (PAW-Mumbai) Office received a E-Mail send by Citizen Mr. Gajendra  to The Commissioner of Police – Navi Mumbai and copy of it have been forwarded to the  MP Dr. Sanjeev G Naik in regards to “Cruelty on Elephants in Navi Mumbai”.

The brief letter written by Alert Citizen in his words………………………..

I have filmed this video in Sector-2, Koper Khairne, Navi Mumbai in last week. I would like to attract your attention that how innocent animal-Elephants are brought in City and forced in BEGGING for food, Money etc. In city if police are authorized to stop illegal vehicle, then why not police stopping elephant to come in city limit creating traffic and risk to own life of elephants. We have to Book elephant owner under prevention of animal cruelty act. Police dept cannot carry sole responsibility; also it is duty of other ministry. More important is Maharashtra Environment Minister Hon. Ganesh Naik belongs to same locality. I expect some intervention from his dept also in this matter. All media is showing news of such kind in remote part of India, but ignore what is happening in city in front of them. As we all knew that few year back, in Chembur, Mumbai one elephant died due to hit by BUS on road. We have to stop this happening again. Request you to please take a small action to prevent this.

 

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Please have a look at Forest Check Post STAFF doing their duty

Forest Department Staff at Beat Chicki (Check Post) near Check Naka Mulund on LBS Marg enjoying their sleep at night, are they posted for sleep at night time or to keep vigilance ?

We as a common citizen regularly (daily) see the mahout of private owned elephants take such a large animal from Mumbai City limit to Thane City limit for commercial purpose of begging, joy ride, for marriage / religious / display of advertise, etc., but the staff appointed at this check post never seen checking their document from person who is taking this elephant from one city to other city limit. This is the condition of all the check post across the state of Maharashtra. If any case have been registered other then illegal Timber Trade at this check posts, then dear forest authority please make it public as we want to know about it.

Photograph & Input by Amol Surve

Photography

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Get in touch with Elephant Project or Animal Welfare Board for Elephant which are made to beg on street issue says CZA

CZA Letter to PAWS-Mumbai

On 28 December 2011, Plant & Animals Welfare Society – Mumbai Office received a letter from Central Zoo Authority – CZA (Ministry of Environment & Forests, Government of India) New Delhi Letter F. No. 26-1/2010-CZA(Vol.II)(M)/2065 dated 21/23.12.2011, which is signed by B. S. Bonal – Member Secretar : CZA  following to PAWS-Mumbai letter Dated 8 December 2011 to Member Secretary of Central Zoo Authority, New Delhi in regards to “Strict action against owners/ mahouts of Elephants which are made to beg on streets.”

Brief Letter of CZA says……………..

I appreciate your concern for the welfare of Elephants. This is to inform you that the elephants other than those housed in zoos and circuses does not come under the purview of the Central Zoo Authority.

Therefore, you are requested to get in touch with the concerned authorities i.e. Elephant Project and Animal Welfare Board.

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PAWS-Mumbai Letter to Member Secretary Central Zoo Authority for Strict action against owners/mahouts of Elephants which are made to beg on streets

Copy of PAWS-Mumbai Letter send to
Central Zoo Authority

On 08 December 2011, Plant & Animals Welfare Society – Mumbai (PAW-Mumbai) Office have send letter to Member Secretary – Central Zoo Authority and copy of it have been forwarded to Smt. Jayanthi Natarajan – Ministry of Environment and Forests, The President / Secretary – Animal Welfare Board of India, Dr. Anjani Kumar (Director) Animal Welfare Division (Govt. of India)  in regards to Strict action against owners / mahouts of Elephants which are made to beg on streets.

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

This is to bring to your notice that Elephants are illegally made to be on streets by their owners/mahouts to earn money. This is violation of the concerned laws of the land such as Wildlife Protection Act 1972, Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1960, Performing Animals Rules 1973 & 2001.

Such display and using of poor Elephants on the streets for commercial gains should be banned as they come under severe stress and trauma. In fact, the street is much more than while they are captive in zoos. You may notice that the CZA Circular File No.7-5/2006-CZA (Vol.II) dated 7^th November 2009 banning elephants from Zoo collections. There is a dire need to issue another Circular in relation to this issue of banning Elephants on our streets for advertisements, begging or for entertainment. The Elephants face more stress and insult at the hands of the public that in a Zoo.

So we urge you to kindly issue a Circular/ Directives to the concerned law-enforcement authority (Police, Forest Dept.) to take stringent action against the owners / Mahouts who make the Elephants walk on our streets for begging advertisement or for permitting the public any unhygienic food.

We would appreciate if you would inform us for the action taken on our complaint.

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