The Hindu : New Delhi News : More Yamuna elephants micro-chipped

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Wednesday, Oct 10, 2007
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New Delhi

New Delhi

More Yamuna elephants micro-chipped

Bindu Shajan Perappadan

NEW DELHI: Introduced to track, monitor and keep a check on the general health of captive working elephants in the Capital, the Delhi Wildlife Department along with Wildlife SOS, a non-government organisation working in the area, has micro-chipped seven more domesticated elephants living on the banks of the Yamuna.

Inching closer to finally completing the tagging process of the entire captive population of elephants in the city, the second phase of this ambitious project on Monday included inserting a rice grain-sized micro-chip imported from Britain under the skin behind the animal’s ear under strict medical supervision.“Last year 20 animals were tagged and the process has been taken up again this year. We still have four elephants left in the city to be tagged which should be completed by the end of this week,” said Kartick Satyanarayan of Wildlife SOS.

“The process in the long run will aid in the reduction of illegal trading of elephants with the sellers and traders being monitored. We hope to be able to gradually cut off the illegal supply of elephants to Delhi. Also, we will be able to monitor the working hours of the domesticated elephants in the city. The move is aimed at providing a more streamlined support system for the animals,” added Mr. Satyanarayan.

There are at present over 30 captive working elephants in the city. According to a Wildlife SOS veterinarian, complaints of gastro-intestinal and abdominal disorders are common among these elephants and they are also plagued by rotten feet. “Wildlife SOS will also provide free medical attention to the elephants and the tagged animals can be now monitored on a continuous basis. ,” said a Delhi Wildlife Dept. official.

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