KOTTAYAM: Chasing away a wild elephant using a JCB that resulted in its death in Munnar this week has angered animal rights activists. According to the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, their natural movements should not be restricted by any means while Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, says moving machinery should not be brought near them. An estimated 46 wild elephants had died in the past one year in the state, of them, six were shot dead, 26 in the fight among them, and 14 electrocuted.
The latest is the second similar incident causing internal haemorrhage. A tiger injured in the stomach while being taken to a zoo from forests in Uttarakhand's Nainital after tranquillizing died on June 8 last year. "The forest department should adopt alternative measures such as artificial roars of lions and tigers to scare them away," VK Venkitachalam, secretary of an NGO, Heritage Animal Task Force, told DC. "But they appear disinterested."
