Kerala - Kollam   

SPCA finds a `jumbo' problem in Kollam

By Ignatius Pereira

KOLLAM, JAN. 30. Among the districts in the State, Kollam has the highest number of temple festivals in which elephants participate. In addition to the ritualistic aspects of participation, tuskers are also included in the festivals as symbols of prestige and ostentation. Gaja melas are instances of such ostentation.

A study conducted by the Assistant Director of the Animal Husbandry Department, B. Aravind, for the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA), found that a section of people in Kollam was even of the view that a show of elephant strength was a must for any festival.

Profitable venture

Thus, irrespective of age and height, elephants were arranged through brokers. This made tusker-rearing a highly profitable venture, as a result of which elephants were made to attend such festivals irrespective of age and health conditions.

Dr. Aravind said that under the Captive Elephant Management Rules 2003, it was an offence to make elephants less than two years of age participate in rituals and processions. However, it was not uncommon to see elephants less than two years old participating in such festivals.

Specific height

"In most districts, only tuskers with a specific height are made to attend temple rituals. The minimum height requirement in these districts is 9.5 ft. But in Kollam, no such standards prevail. The thrust is to have the maximum number of tuskers possible. The crowding of tuskers often leads to problems," he said.

Mahouts gored

The SPCA study showed that last year in Kollam district there were 34 incidents of tuskers running amok mainly due to musth. Two mahouts were gored to death by elephants and three seriously injured after being gored. In seven incidents, SPCA personnel had to fire tranquilliser shots to bring the animal under control.

During the period, elephant participation was reported at 115 temples in the district employing 148 tuskers. Of this, 120 were from the district itself.

For festival rituals at six temples, the elephant participation was 50 or more at each temple. At 43 temples, it was between 11 and 20, at 45, five and 10 and at nine, 21 and 40.

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