Kerala   

Decisions on elephant care extended to temples

Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala government has decided to immediately extend the decisions on elephant management taken at meetings held by Ministers to the temples controlled by Devaswom boards, Devaswom managing committees or the Hindu Religious and Charitable Institutions Department.

An official pressnote said here on Wednesday that these temples would be asked to discourage moves to start new poorams. Even for the existing poorams, the number of elephants should not be increased. Committees consisting of the Collector, the District Superintendent of Police, the District Forest Officer and a Devaswom member should be constituted for controlling festival matters. A ring should be constructed around the elephants with the help of the police and festival volunteers.

The “theevetti” should be held away from the animals. Adequate food and water should be given to the animals. They should also be made to stand on wet ground or water-soaked gunny bags to prevent heat from affecting their legs. The meetings had called for strict measures to stop mahouts in an inebriated condition from taking the elephants for festivals.

The elephants belonging to Devaswom boards should be registered with the Animal Welfare Board. Devaswom boards and the festival committees should take adequate steps to prevent the public from provoking or troubling the animals. Insurance cover should be taken to meet the damages, if any, in the event of the elephant turning berserk. The elephant should be insured in the third party insurance manner.

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