Tamil Nadu - Coimbatore   

Reflective tapes for captive elephants

By V.S. Palaniappan

COIMBATORE, DEC. 23. Concerned at the increasing incidents of captive elephants being hit by vehicles, especially at night, the Coimbatore Chapter of the People For Animals (PFA) has procured reflective tapes for being hung on the back of pachyderms.

The Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) and the International Federation for Animal Welfare (IFAW) have provided these tapes, which will indicate the movement of animals to drivers at a safe distance.

Normally captive elephants, attached to temples and private trusts, are taken out on hire for festivals either by foot or truck, especially at night. During the transit, a number of elephants get involved in accidents because of poor visibility. A pair of tapes, each weighing 200 gm and made in New Delhi, costs Rs. 400.

A plastic reflector, with a diameter of five-and-a-half inches, is embedded on a rexin bag with velcro. This could be easily affixed on a rope that runs through the body from head to tail. Affixing a reflector with a velcro along the rope will not prove painful to the elephant, sources said.

The PFA is planning to affix these tapes on the 60-odd captive elephants, now at the rejuvenation camp at Mudumalai.

The PFA managing trustee, Nandini Rangasamy, will hand over these tapes to Rajamanickam, Joint Commissioner of Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments, at Mudumalai on Sunday.

The tapes could be used for other animals when they are being taken to shandies. Those interested in procuring them could approach the PFA Coimbatore Chapter at 95-422-2572222.

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