MoEF asks report on dead jumbo

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) has asked the state chief wildlife warden for a detailed report on the circumstances that led to the death of a wild cow elephant that was tranquillised and then transported nearly 200 km to the elephant rehabilitation centre in Konni.

The 45-year-old elephant and its three-year-old calf were transported to Konni on October 27 and the cow elephant died four days later on November 1. The state had also not taken the mandatory permission from the MoEF before tranquilising the cow elephant and its  calf.

“It is requested that a detailed report of the operations undertaken to tranquillise the animal and its subsequent death  be sent to the ministry within a month,” inspector general of forests (Project Elephant) R.K. Srivastava said in a missive sent to the chief wildlife warden.

In addition to this, the inspector general of forests (wildlife), Dr S.K. Khanduri, has asked the state chief wildlife warden to explain why the centre’s sanction was not sought before the tranquillisation.

Both these central strictures are based on a complaint filed by the secretary of Heritage Animal Task Force, V. K. Venkitachalam. 

In his complaint, he said that the forest veterinary surgeon had tranquillised the injured cow elephant several times violating the guidelines laid down by Project Elephant for capturing wounded wild elephants.

Under these guidelines, forest officials have to employ trained captive elephants to capture the wounded elephant in such a way as to minimise external and internal injuries. 

“But in this case, the unscientific use of tranquillising gun shots on the wild elephant suffering from burn injuries had resulted in severe internal and external injuries of the already ailing elephant,” he said in the complaint.

Forest officials had said that the elephants were shifted to Konni considering the weak condition of the she elephant.