GUWAHATI: People for Cattle in India (PFCI), a Chennai-based NGO, has offered to gift a mechanical elephant to the Srivilliputhur Andal Temple in Tamil Nadu in exchange for the release of Assam’s captive elephant ‘Joymala’.
In a letter to the Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department commissioner, PFCI founder Arun Prasanna highlighted the numerous dangerous incidents involving captive elephants this year.
In the letter, PFCI urged the temple authorities to release Joymala and allow her to live in a sanctuary where she can roam freely and socialize with other elephants.
Joymala, who was temporarily leased to the Tamil Nadu government from Assam, has been illegally held captive by the Srivilliputhur Andal Temple since the lease expired, violating the Wildlife Prevention Act of 1962.
“The inspection reports of the Virudhunagar District Level Captive Elephants Welfare Committee (DLCEW) between 2022 and 2023 received as RTI replies clearly show that the Arulmigu Nachiyar (Andal) Temple authorities have failed to provide this elephant with even the most necessities, including suitable upkeep, care, and maintenance, as suggested repeatedly by this committee,” the letter stated.
“This failure stems from the fact that temples are not wildlife sanctuaries and don’t have the space or veterinary expertise required to suitably care for an enormous animal that requires roaming vast distances in the jungle, socialization with other species members, and a huge quantity of food and water. This elephant’s complex needs must be met for her physical and mental well-being,” the letter stated.
PFCI pointed out that the deputy director of the Srivilliputhur-Megamalai Tiger Reserve reported to the principal chief conservator of forests and chief wildlife warden of Tamil Nadu in July 2023 that the temple had been negligent in providing Joymala with even basic care and maintenance, despite the DLCEWC’s repeated recommendations.
PFCI warned that Joymala’s history of abuse and neglect has made her unpredictable, posing a danger to her mahouts and temple visitors.
The stress of prolonged captivity, including being chained for hours and past trauma such as exposure to weapons, often leads captive elephants to develop abnormal behaviors. These elephants, when agitated or upset, are more likely to attack humans.
In its letter, PFCI highlighted that in July an elephant named Kadakkachaal Ganeshan went on a rampage and injured a mahout near Thrissur.
In June at an illegal safari park, an elephant named Lakshmi crushed a mahout to death in Idukki, it stated.
ALSO READ: Wildlife Crime Control Bureau begins probe into illegal transfer of captive elephants from Northeast
PFCI is a Chennai-based NGO established in 2012 with a focus on preventing illegal cattle trafficking and slaughter and other animal protection issues.
The NGO has saved the lives of more than 1,000 cattle and other animals. The group also distributes water bowls to help birds and other animals quench their thirst and regulate their body temperature.
