Jumbo faces tough time

ALAPPUZHA: It’s tough time for Mundakkal Sekharan. The tusker in his thirties is tethered in an open compound under the scorching sun at Karuvatta near here and battling for life.

The gentle giant is struggling to fix the right rear leg on the ground properly because of a deep wound on the hip developed from frequent friction while sleeping.

The blind jumbo gets a few coconut leaves to eat while the health condition is fast deteriorating. The tarpaulin sheet spread above hardly gives protection.

Owned by Shinu, an NRI businessman from Kurathikad, for more than a decade now, Sekharan is currently under the custody of Vijayan, a Guruvayoor Devaswom Board employee.

“Sekharan has been under treatment,” said N. Babu, a former caretaker. “The owner has spent thousands of rupees on treatment and he continues to do so.”

Sekharan was paraded at hundreds of festivals across the state and was forced to do other hard jobs for his master to earn money.

“A forest department veterinarian is treating him,” said S. Sreekumar, an assistant conservator with the department. “His health is very weak and the blood count has dipped. We visitedthe place and checked if there’s any torture.”

However, rights activists are angry at the way the elephant was being treated. They want the department to confiscate it and provide proper treatment.

“How can this elephant take a snap without a proper shelter than a tarpaulin shield,” asks V. K. Venkitachalam.

“The elephant is forced to bear the heat and heavy downpour in violation of the guidelines prescribed by the Project Elephant for lawful maintenance of captive elephants”. Many fear the elephant would not live more than six months.