No mercy for half-blind jumbos

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A dangerous number of captive elephants turning murderous are blind. Yet, the state Forest Department has not prohibited the use of blind elephants in religious processions and festivals in any decisive manner. There is a circular against parading blind elephants but this is invariably flouted saying blindness in captive elephants has not been properly defined.

The circular was issued by chief wildlife warden N Harikumar on February 9 this year in response to growing complaints of blind elephants wreaking havoc. Just when it looked that the issue had been settled, a festival in Kannur employed blind elephants in March.

When this was pointed out, the assistant conservator of forests (ACF) gave a new twist to the chief wildlife warden’s circular. “The February 9, 2016, circular lacks clarity in the case of partially blind elephants,” the ACF said. Meaning, only fully blind elephants were banned.

The ACF had his reasons. His reply states that Thechikottukavu Ramachandran, arguably the most popular elephant in the state, is active in the festival circuit in the southern parts of the state. “Even a panel of doctors had recommended the animal’s participation, and the courts ratified it,” the ACF said. Ramachandran was declared fully blind in the left eye and partially blind six years ago, after it killed 4 people.

This double-speak forced State Animal Welfare Board member M N Jayachandran to seek clarity. “Is blindness in captive elephants defined?” he sought an RTI reply from the chief wildlife warden. And the reply from the person who issued the February 9 circular, said: “Not yet.”