The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : Unruly elephants: study blames climate change

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Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Unruly elephants: study blames climate change

Special Correspondent

Report to be presented in the science congress
It covers the period from July 2006 to April 2007

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Incidents of elephants running amok have been on the rise in Kerala over the last few years. Violent pachyderms have killed several people and damaged property. Animal lovers have often attributed the unruly behaviour of captive elephants to ill-treatment or neglect at the hands of mahouts.

But a recent study suggests that climate change may have something to do with the disruptive behaviour of pachyderms.

The study by T.S. Rajeev of the College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Wayanad, P.J. Rajkamal of the College of Veterinary Sciences, Mannuthy, and C.R.Marshal of the Hindustan College of Arts and Science, Kovai, indicates that the rise in ambient temperature and relative humidity could be triggering a violent reaction in the animals.

The study, which is to be presented at the 20th Kerala Science Congress, notes that there was a significantly higher number of incidents of elephant violence, death and damages in 2007, even though the pachyderms involved were not in ‘musth’ as compared to 2006.

An investigation of incidents of injury or mortality of elephant keepers, damage to public property and elephants running amok was carried out during the period from July 2006 to April 2007, which marks the festival season in Kerala.

Cases in Thrissur

Twenty-four incidents that occurred in Thrissur district were analysed out of 62 cases reported from all over the State.

Details of the atmospheric temperature, relative humidity, geographical location and time were examined. The report notes that the normal body temperature of elephants is lower than that of many other animals (96.6 degree F), making them highly susceptible to even a small change in the environment.

Rise in temperature

The data revealed that the mean day temperature during the festival season from February to April 2007 was significantly higher than the corresponding period in 2006. This, the report suggests, could have triggered the higher incidence of violence in elephants. The higher humidity in coastal areas may have disturbed the thermoregulatory mechanism in the animals, adding to the stress caused by the heat.

Time for measures

Older animals, it observes, are more vulnerable to temperature and humidity variations. The study proposes detailed deliberations involving mahouts, elephant owners and the public to evolve measures for reduction of thermal stress to elephants during the hot months.

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