Thrissur: The pictures and footage of the mysterious ‘laser’ seen falling on the elephants while they were being paraded during festivals had prompted the Elephant Owners’ Federation, the only organization of its kind in the state, to file a complaint with the Chief Minister and Forest Minister demanding an inquiry. According to the functionaries of the Federation, they smell a rat over the recent incidents in Sabarimala and Thiruvalla and Kollam regions where the pachyderms had ran amok while being paraded .
“We spoke to several mahouts associated with our elephants and they also conveyed to us about the frequent use of ‘laser’ on the elephants eyes by unknown persons in the crowd and it prompted us to file a complaint,” P Sasikumar, general secretary of the Federation said. He also said that it was a matter of great concern that the incidents of elephants running amok was much higher this year than in the previous years.
“With Thrissur Pooram round the corner, we have asked the District Collector in the review meeting to look into the ‘laser attack’ on the pachyderms and also not to allow the use of balloons near the parading elephants which will make the elephants restless,” he added.
‘Laser allegation baseless’
However, pro-animal activists like V K Venkitachalm of Heritage Animal Task Force are not ready to buy such an argument. He says that the ‘laser’ which is shown in the videos and photos in the media is called flarelight and not laser. “Elephants have seven layers of skin. The elephant stands with its eyes closed and its eyelids are also covered with skin. And, it can’t make the elephant upset as claimed by the owners. We have learnt from Laser treatment experts who carry out treatment for the eyes, that neither the patient nor the doctors can see the laser beam emanating from the pointers,” Venkitachalam said.
The reasons for elephants running amok were due to lack of proper rest and not being provided necessary food and water during the busy festival season. Another reason was parading of pachyderms which were not fully recovered from musth, he noted.
