KOTTAYAM: In the wake of spurt in atrocities committed against the elephants, the District Animal Husbandry department here has issued strict orders about following the rules regarding management of captive elephants.
These rules have to be followed by elephant owners, mahouts and public as well, said Dr Gopalakrishnan Nair, district animal husbandry officer. Atrocities against elephants should be brought to the attention of the department at the earliest, he said.
Forest, police, revenue and veterinary officials should be informed about using elephants for various functions. If more than three elephants are used, the service of the elephant squad should be sought.
Regarding the food for the elephants used in such functions, he said food with high water content and plenty of drinking water should be provided daily. Elephants showing symptoms of musth should not be used for festivals or put to any other work.
The name of the elephant and its owner should be displayed on a board and well trained mahouts(minimum two) should accompany these elephants. Mahouts should not consume alcohol while taking the elephant for a function or to work.
He also strictly banned using the services of the elephant for any function from 11am-3pm. During functions or festivals, when the elephants are used, a distance of 1.5 meters should be maintained on the sides and 4 meters in the front and back sides between elephants. No fireworks should be there within a radius of 50 meters.
Elephants should not be used for work or functions more than eight hours a day. They should be transported in vehicles strictly following the rules only. Necessary arrangements should be made for the elephant to take rest.
Those elephants brought from other district should have the certificate of the forest department. The elephant owners and mahouts should strictly follow the Kerala captive elephants (Management and Maintenance) Rules, 2003, he said.
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