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Tag: elephants

  • Panel suggests relocation of 23 elephants from North East to Gujarat

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI:  A high-powered committee, constituted by the Tripura High Court, has actually helpful change of 23 elephants from Arunachal Pradesh and Tripura to animal rescue centre in Gujarat, run by Shri Radhe Krishna Temple, Elephant Welfare Trust The 70-page report of the committee, accessed by this newspaper, praised the rescue centre as “world class”. 

    It moreover actually helpful that each one states consider transferring captive elephants which might be abandoned or required to be rescued from any state of affairs of cruelty to this rescue centre. It moreover directed Chief Wild Life Wardens of Tripura and Arunachal Pradesh to take enough and proper steps to guarantee that no youthful elephants are captured from the wild.

    The five-member panel was formed inside the first week of November remaining 12 months after a public curiosity litigation filed inside the Tripura High Court on the lookout for an inquiry into the earlier transfers and transportation of captive-bred elephants. It moreover sought a restrain on the change and transportation of these animals from North-East to the Elephant Welfare Trust.

    The committee had visited the rescue centre. It had formed one different three-member sub-committee, headed by Dr M Selvan – Scientist, Elephant Cell, to go to the web sites of elephants in Arunachal and Tripura. The Sub-Committee found that each one 23 elephants required care and have had earlier accidents. They lacked meals and are left in open to fend for themselves.

    “On a comparative analysis, there is no doubt that it would be in the interest of the elephants to be allowed to be transferred to the said camp,” said the sub-committee. While wildlife conservationists criticised the report saying it is silent on the age, standing of elephants and whether or not or not it was captive born or wild caught. Country desires decentralised rescue centres instead of 1 centre in Gujarat, which on no account be a pure habitat, they said.

    “Why are these 23 elephants only selected in particular is not explained and how did the proceedings for these 23 elephants to be transferred to Jamnagar began is not explained either?” puzzled a senior official associated to the occasion.

    The panel was chaired by Justice (retd) Deepak Verma. Director General of Forests, Head of Project, Elephant Division inside the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change,  Member Secretary, Central Zoo Authority of India, Chief Wild Life Warden of Tripura and Chief Wild Life Warden  of Gujarat have been the members of the panel. Later, the committee added an expert on elephants as a member.
    In March, the Supreme Court extended the committee’s jurisdiction to pan-India stage. 

    Conservationists flay report
    While wildlife conservationists criticised the report saying it is silent on the age, standing of elephants and whether or not or not it was captive born or wild caught. Country desires decentralised rescue centres instead of 1 centre in Gujarat, which on no account be a pure habitat, they said 

    NEW DELHI:  A high-powered committee, constituted by the Tripura High Court, has actually helpful change of 23 elephants from Arunachal Pradesh and Tripura to animal rescue centre in Gujarat, run by Shri Radhe Krishna Temple, Elephant Welfare Trust The 70-page report of the committee, accessed by this newspaper, praised the rescue centre as “world class”. 

    It moreover actually helpful that each one states consider transferring captive elephants which might be abandoned or required to be rescued from any state of affairs of cruelty to this rescue centre. It moreover directed Chief Wild Life Wardens of Tripura and Arunachal Pradesh to take enough and proper steps to guarantee that no youthful elephants are captured from the wild.

    The five-member panel was formed inside the first week of November remaining 12 months after a public curiosity litigation filed inside the Tripura High Court on the lookout for an inquiry into the earlier transfers and transportation of captive-bred elephants. It moreover sought a restrain on the change and transportation of these animals from North-East to the Elephant Welfare Trust.googletag.cmd.push(function() googletag.present(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); );

    The committee had visited the rescue centre. It had formed one different three-member sub-committee, headed by Dr M Selvan – Scientist, Elephant Cell, to go to the web sites of elephants in Arunachal and Tripura. The Sub-Committee found that each one 23 elephants required care and have had earlier accidents. They lacked meals and are left in open to fend for themselves.

    “On a comparative analysis, there is no doubt that it would be in the interest of the elephants to be allowed to be transferred to the said camp,” said the sub-committee. While wildlife conservationists criticised the report saying it is silent on the age, standing of elephants and whether or not or not it was captive born or wild caught. Country desires decentralised rescue centres instead of 1 centre in Gujarat, which on no account be a pure habitat, they said.

    “Why are these 23 elephants only selected in particular is not explained and how did the proceedings for these 23 elephants to be transferred to Jamnagar began is not explained either?” puzzled a senior official associated to the occasion.

    The panel was chaired by Justice (retd) Deepak Verma. Director General of Forests, Head of Project, Elephant Division inside the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change,  Member Secretary, Central Zoo Authority of India, Chief Wild Life Warden of Tripura and Chief Wild Life Warden  of Gujarat have been the members of the panel. Later, the committee added an expert on elephants as a member.
    In March, the Supreme Court extended the committee’s jurisdiction to pan-India stage. 

    Conservationists flay report
    While wildlife conservationists criticised the report saying it is silent on the age, standing of elephants and whether or not or not it was captive born or wild caught. Country desires decentralised rescue centres instead of 1 centre in Gujarat, which on no account be a pure habitat, they said 

  • Guwahati Diary: State trying to convey again elephants

    Express News Service

    State trying to convey again elephants
    Assam has the second highest variety of elephants (5,719) after Karnataka (6,049), in accordance with a 2017 census. Over the previous 16 years, 97 Assam jumbos have been despatched to different states, primarily for non secular actions, on lease for two-three years. However, a lot of them are overstaying the lease interval. Giving out the figures within the Assembly, Forest Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary stated the pachyderms have been despatched to Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, West Bengal, Haryana, Odisha, and Jharkhand. He stated the state authorities had been in contact with these states to convey again the jumbos.

    Petty crimes preserving metropolis cops on their toes
    The circumstances of mobile-snatching and different petty crimes have been on the rise in Guwahati.  Unsuspecting pedestrians have misplaced their cell phones, wallets and different valuables to thieves. They would come using two-wheelers with faux registration numbers and snatch the property. New Police Commissioner Diganta Borah suggested individuals to stay alert. He assured that every one measures have been being taken to make sure safety to the residents. In an incident two days in the past, the police fired at two thieves, leaving them injured. 

    Oppn furious over govt’s ‘conflicting figures’
    The Opposition created an uproar on Saturday when the federal government advised the Assembly that 30 individuals have been killed in police actions in 26 incidents within the state from January final 12 months. Last month, the federal government had advised the Gauhati HC in an affidavit that there have been 171 incidents of police firing from May final 12 months to August this 12 months during which 56 individuals have been killed and 145 injured. The Opposition is furious that the federal government shared conflicting figures at two completely different boards. Delhi-based lawyer Arif Jwadder, who had earlier filed a PIL within the courtroom, expressed shock as a lot of the injured have been criminals who have been shot at for making an attempt to flee from police custody.

    Prasanta mazumdar
    Our correspondent in Guwahati
    [email protected]

    State trying to convey again elephants
    Assam has the second highest variety of elephants (5,719) after Karnataka (6,049), in accordance with a 2017 census. Over the previous 16 years, 97 Assam jumbos have been despatched to different states, primarily for non secular actions, on lease for two-three years. However, a lot of them are overstaying the lease interval. Giving out the figures within the Assembly, Forest Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary stated the pachyderms have been despatched to Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, West Bengal, Haryana, Odisha, and Jharkhand. He stated the state authorities had been in contact with these states to convey again the jumbos.

    Petty crimes preserving metropolis cops on their toes
    The circumstances of mobile-snatching and different petty crimes have been on the rise in Guwahati.  Unsuspecting pedestrians have misplaced their cell phones, wallets and different valuables to thieves. They would come using two-wheelers with faux registration numbers and snatch the property. New Police Commissioner Diganta Borah suggested individuals to stay alert. He assured that every one measures have been being taken to make sure safety to the residents. In an incident two days in the past, the police fired at two thieves, leaving them injured. 

    Oppn furious over govt’s ‘conflicting figures’
    The Opposition created an uproar on Saturday when the federal government advised the Assembly that 30 individuals have been killed in police actions in 26 incidents within the state from January final 12 months. Last month, the federal government had advised the Gauhati HC in an affidavit that there have been 171 incidents of police firing from May final 12 months to August this 12 months during which 56 individuals have been killed and 145 injured. The Opposition is furious that the federal government shared conflicting figures at two completely different boards. Delhi-based lawyer Arif Jwadder, who had earlier filed a PIL within the courtroom, expressed shock as a lot of the injured have been criminals who have been shot at for making an attempt to flee from police custody.

    Prasanta mazumdar
    Our correspondent in Guwahati
    [email protected]

  • After consuming ‘mahua’ liquor, 24 elephants sleep for hours in Odisha forest

    By PTI

    KEONJHAR: People of a village in Odisha went inside a forest to arrange ‘mahua’, a standard nation liquor, however discovered {that a} herd of elephants already devoured the water fermented with the intoxicating flowers and are in deep sleep.

    The villagers dwelling close to Shilipada cashew forest in Keonjhar district noticed {that a} complete of 24 jumbos, who had been apparently drunk, had been sleeping close to the place the place mahua flowers had been stored in water in giant pots for fermentation.

    “We went into the jungle at around 6 am to prepare mahua and found that all the pots were broken and the fermented water is missing. We also found that the elephants were sleeping. They consumed the fermented water and got drunk,” Naria Sethi, a villager, stated.

    “There were nine tuskers, six females and nine calves. That liquor was unprocessed. We tried to wake up the animals but failed. The forest department was then informed,” he stated.

    Forest division personnel after reaching the spot within the jungle underneath the Patana forest vary needed to beat drums to wake the herd up.

    The elephants then went deep contained in the forest, stated Ghasiram Patra, the forest ranger.

    Sethi stated the herd left the place at round 10 am.

    The forest official, nonetheless, just isn’t positive whether or not the elephants received drunk after consuming fermented mahua.

    “Maybe, they were just resting there,” Patra stated.

    Villagers, alternatively, insisted that they noticed the elephants sleeping in intoxicated situations at numerous locations near the damaged pots on Tuesday.

    The flowers of Mahua tree (Madhuca longifolia) are fermented to provide an alcoholic drink additionally referred to as Mahua.

    Tribal women and men in numerous elements of India historically make this liquor.

    KEONJHAR: People of a village in Odisha went inside a forest to arrange ‘mahua’, a standard nation liquor, however discovered {that a} herd of elephants already devoured the water fermented with the intoxicating flowers and are in deep sleep.

    The villagers dwelling close to Shilipada cashew forest in Keonjhar district noticed {that a} complete of 24 jumbos, who had been apparently drunk, had been sleeping close to the place the place mahua flowers had been stored in water in giant pots for fermentation.

    “We went into the jungle at around 6 am to prepare mahua and found that all the pots were broken and the fermented water is missing. We also found that the elephants were sleeping. They consumed the fermented water and got drunk,” Naria Sethi, a villager, stated.

    “There were nine tuskers, six females and nine calves. That liquor was unprocessed. We tried to wake up the animals but failed. The forest department was then informed,” he stated.

    Forest division personnel after reaching the spot within the jungle underneath the Patana forest vary needed to beat drums to wake the herd up.

    The elephants then went deep contained in the forest, stated Ghasiram Patra, the forest ranger.

    Sethi stated the herd left the place at round 10 am.

    The forest official, nonetheless, just isn’t positive whether or not the elephants received drunk after consuming fermented mahua.

    “Maybe, they were just resting there,” Patra stated.

    Villagers, alternatively, insisted that they noticed the elephants sleeping in intoxicated situations at numerous locations near the damaged pots on Tuesday.

    The flowers of Mahua tree (Madhuca longifolia) are fermented to provide an alcoholic drink additionally referred to as Mahua.

    Tribal women and men in numerous elements of India historically make this liquor.

  • Sambalpur: Two elephants die of suspected pesticide poisoning

    By Express News Service

    SAMBALPUR: Two elephants had been discovered useless at Tileimal village close to Patara forest in Badarama vary below Bamra division right here on Thursday. Carcasses of the elephants, one male and the opposite feminine, had been first noticed by villagers of Tileimal within the morning. Both had been discovered close to a paddy discipline. The male elephant was aged round 10 years whereas feminine was 12-15 years outdated. They had been a part of a herd of round 20 elephants.

    On being knowledgeable, forest officers rushed to the spot and began investigation. Divisional forest officer (DFO) of Bamra Phalguni Sarathi Mallik mentioned, “Since the elephants were found near the paddy field, we suspect that they might have died after consuming pesticide-laced crops. We came to know from the landowner that he had sprayed pesticide on the paddy crop on Wednesday evening.”

    Preliminary investigation additionally advised that the elephants drank water from the identical discipline which was laced with pesticide.There are not any damage marks on the carcasses. The precise reason for dying could be ascertained after the postmortem report arrives, the DFO added.

    Earlier on June 21, an elephant had died as a consequence of bullet accidents at Samplahara village below Sambalpur forest division. On July 24, a half-burnt carcass of an elephant was recovered from Dhama forest vary below Sambalpur division.

    SAMBALPUR: Two elephants had been discovered useless at Tileimal village close to Patara forest in Badarama vary below Bamra division right here on Thursday. Carcasses of the elephants, one male and the opposite feminine, had been first noticed by villagers of Tileimal within the morning. Both had been discovered close to a paddy discipline. The male elephant was aged round 10 years whereas feminine was 12-15 years outdated. They had been a part of a herd of round 20 elephants.

    On being knowledgeable, forest officers rushed to the spot and began investigation. Divisional forest officer (DFO) of Bamra Phalguni Sarathi Mallik mentioned, “Since the elephants were found near the paddy field, we suspect that they might have died after consuming pesticide-laced crops. We came to know from the landowner that he had sprayed pesticide on the paddy crop on Wednesday evening.”

    Preliminary investigation additionally advised that the elephants drank water from the identical discipline which was laced with pesticide.There are not any damage marks on the carcasses. The precise reason for dying could be ascertained after the postmortem report arrives, the DFO added.

    Earlier on June 21, an elephant had died as a consequence of bullet accidents at Samplahara village below Sambalpur forest division. On July 24, a half-burnt carcass of an elephant was recovered from Dhama forest vary below Sambalpur division.

  • Environment ministry creating genetic database of captive elephants to curb unlawful commerce: Officials

    A lot of captive elephants in India are privately owned and a majority of them are used for industrial or ceremonial functions and rituals.

  • Two elephants electrocuted in Odisha’s Keonjhar district

    By Express News Service

    KEONJHAR: In a stunning incident, two elephants had been electrocuted within the OUAT campus in Keonjhar below the Keonjhar Sadar vary on Thursday morning.  

    Both had been females and had given beginning to 2 calves lower than a month again.

    The two, about 25-year-old, had been a part of a bunch of 9 elephants roaming in Judia of the Sanaghagara forest space. For the previous few days, the group has been dwelling on this forest.  

    On Thursday morning, a bunch entered the OUAT premises and got here in touch with 11 kV wire which led to their demise. DFO HD Dhanral and Sadar Ranger Bijay Kumar Mahant rushed to the spot.

    The incident has uncovered a obtrusive lack of coordination amongst forest, vitality and different authorities companies in securing elephants’ motion. Herds of elephants have been dwelling within the area however no remedial measures had been taken.

    Odisha has of late grabbed headlines over a spate of elephant deaths and suppression of the incidents. Poaching too has been a reason behind concern.

    Electrocution deaths although should not new. The state stories one of many highest numbers of elephant electrocution within the nation.

    KEONJHAR: In a stunning incident, two elephants had been electrocuted within the OUAT campus in Keonjhar below the Keonjhar Sadar vary on Thursday morning.  

    Both had been females and had given beginning to 2 calves lower than a month again.

    The two, about 25-year-old, had been a part of a bunch of 9 elephants roaming in Judia of the Sanaghagara forest space. For the previous few days, the group has been dwelling on this forest.  

    On Thursday morning, a bunch entered the OUAT premises and got here in touch with 11 kV wire which led to their demise. DFO HD Dhanral and Sadar Ranger Bijay Kumar Mahant rushed to the spot.

    The incident has uncovered a obtrusive lack of coordination amongst forest, vitality and different authorities companies in securing elephants’ motion. Herds of elephants have been dwelling within the area however no remedial measures had been taken.

    Odisha has of late grabbed headlines over a spate of elephant deaths and suppression of the incidents. Poaching too has been a reason behind concern.

    Electrocution deaths although should not new. The state stories one of many highest numbers of elephant electrocution within the nation.

  • Cruelty to animals: HC asks Kerala govt to provide district-wise particulars of animal welfare organisations

    By Express News Service
    KOCHI: The Kerala High Court on Monday directed the state authorities to provide the district-wise particulars of animal welfare organisations, each state-owned in addition to on the personal possession.

    A division bench comprising Justice AK Jayasankaran Nambiar and Justice Gopinath P issued the order when the suo motu case registered to watch the steps taken in opposition to the cases of cruelty to animals got here up for listening to.

    A report was submitted by the Amici Curiae – Senior Advocate Ramesh Babu and Advocate Suresh Menon – suggesting the structure of the state animal welfare board. They instructed an apex committee and varied sub-committees to handle the totally different points relating to animal welfare throughout the state. The apex committee comprising a retired choose of the Kerala High Court as chairperson and 19 different members nominated by the federal government and the court docket. The sub-committees might be constituted to handle the problems relating to animal contraception, the functioning of slaughterhouses and others. 

    The report additionally instructed captive elephant committee monitor the welfare of captive elephants. The court docket requested the state to think about the report as a suggestion and are available again to the court docket with their views concerning the structure of the animal welfare board.

    As regards the alleged capturing and culling of road canine within the Thrikkakara municipality space, the municipality submitted that they don’t have any position to play within the incident. The police have registered instances in opposition to a number of individuals and a junior well being inspector hooked up to the municipality. The court docket directed the municipality to determine areas the place road canine might be rehabilitated and sheltered. The municipality might not have the ability to discharge their whole obligation as regards the upkeep of such shelter by spending funds at this stage. The court docket additionally explored the opportunity of figuring out animal welfare teams that may have the ability to utilise their sources to catch, relocate and shelter the road canine. M Umadevi, Counsel for Daya animal welfare organisation submitted that it is able to present shelter to road canine and sought time to establish the holding capability of the shelters maintained by the organisation.

    The court docket posted the listening to of the case to Friday.

  • Tranquillising elephants want grit, willpower and keenness: Dr Jacob Cheeran

    Express News Service
    THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The historical past of domesticating elephants within the nation might be traced again to about 6000 BCE on the idea of rock work. However, the act of tranquillising unruly elephants is simply 45 years outdated. On the forty fifth anniversary of elephant immobilisation, Dr Jacob V Cheeran, 81, one among senior-most vets within the nation who created historical past by tranquillising the elephant, ‘Kizhakke Veetil Damodaran’, when it ran amok in Palakkad on April 22 in 1976, shares his expertise.

    When did you’re feeling {that a} tranquilliser dart must be developed to tame elephants?

    It was through the Seventies that we mentioned a way of darting an elephant. At the time, unruly elephants had been tamed by mahouts or crowd utilizing crude strategies like stoning or firing bullets by Kerala police for Forest personnel. Elephants would endure critical accidents and even die as a result of this.

    Did you design the tranquilliser gadget or carry it from elsewhere?

    My professor and I, who looked for a tool right here, received it from Georgia. The distant injection was developed underneath a privately-funded mission by the School of Pharmacy of the University of Georgia. The one who funded the mission was Harold C Palmer. It was his property, however he began advertising it for stray canine management and used nicotine within the gadget to tranquillise the canine. After weeks-long correspondence and securing clearance from the DRDA and explosives director, we positioned an order to import it and it reached Madras.

    Tells us about your first expertise of immobilising an elephant.

    The elephant, ‘Kizhakke Veetil Damodaran’, was the primary jumbo on the earth to be darted by the tranquilliser. When it ran amok at Thirunellayi in Palakkad, I went there with the tranquilliser gun. I had no thought in regards to the dose. There had been two expenses – one to propel the syringe from the gun and one other to inject the drug. The use of the syringe cost was not clear. I used it the way in which I believed could be correct. However, once I pulled the set off, I smelled the sturdy odour of nicotine and realised it was the incorrect option to put the syringe cost. I darted the elephant in my second strive. The animal was solely partly down and so, So I needed to give it one other, lower-intensity dose. It was successful. It then turned historical past because it was the primary time an elephant was immobilised by a tranquilliser.

    How many elephants have you ever immobilised since?

    Laughs) It’s tough to calculate. At first, I used to report each incident, however stopped doing so later.I believe over 500 jumbos had been immobilised in my four-decade-long profession. After I immobilised 100 elephants, the state authorities honoured me, Okay C Panicker and R Okay Kaimal and as we used to go for tranquillizing unruly elephants.  

    Were fellow vets impressed by you within the artwork of tranquillizing?

    I educated tons of of vets. Some took it as a vocation whereas others learnt it for educational functions. Tranquillising elephants requires shrewd planning, precautions, teamwork and professionalism. The well being, age, weight and different physiological situation of the goal elephant needs to be studied earlier than making use of the dose. Only a devoted aspirant can excel on this.

    Any dangerous experiences?

    I used to be sued initially when a darted elephant ran amok by the premises of assorted homes and destroyed valuables saved there.

    Was the federal government supportive of the try of importing the gadget and experimenting on elephants?

    It was. I solely confronted authorized points whereas importing the gadget. When the cargo reached the Air cargo complicated, Madras, the appraiser refused to clear the consignment saying that the gun is a prohibited merchandise. Plus, the phrase ‘projector’ (used for syringe projector) comes underneath cinematograph and requested me to provide any identify apart from gun and projector. I mentioned ‘syringe catapult’. He agreed and requested me to say its use. I mentioned, ‘It is an instrument to inject an animal from a distance’ and he cleared the gadgets.

    The major problem then was bringing the gadget to Kerala because it was through the Emergency. When the prepare left Arconum in Tamil Nadu, I could not sleep. When I reached Thrissur an evening later, I heaved a sigh of reduction.