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Elephants Starved
PRESS RELEASE
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Manoj Oswal, 98900 44455 Dhiraj Jain 98907 93853
Elephants taken into custody by forest department and being starved.
Elephant is a schedule I animal and has the highest level of protection under the Wildlife Protection Act. The animals were being casually used in the city for begging, parties and resorts like Choki Dhani for ‘entertainment’.
People for Animals, an organization headed by Maneka Gandhi had lodged a complaint with the forest department about the Elephants being used for begging on the road. On basis of the complaints the elephants and owners were booked on 07 June.2007 but they escaped away. PFA volunteers spread across all highways to and from Pune to catch them again on their way to Mumbai and finally got their mahouts and elephants detained for investigation.
It has been 12 days since the elephants have been detained.
- Forest department has made no arrangements for food for the elephants.
- The elephants were tied on a place for first 5 days, they were immobile to an extent that they had severe swelling on their feet.
- Between Friday and Sunday no food supply went to the elephants for almost 48 hours. The supply was resumed on Mr Nilimkumar Khaire and PFA’s intervention and persuasion to the supplier.
- One of the elephants is totally blind and both are very old.
- The elephants have being frustrated and starved to an extent that they have been have broken a 2 feel thick stone wall.
- Again there has been no food supplied to the elephants on Tuesday.
- In the last 12 days, the forest department has not been able to verify the authenticity of some vague papers submitted by mahout.
- The forest department in unwilling to catch yet another elephant that is roaming in PCMC area without any papers.
- CUPA from Bangalore come forward to take on the rehabilitation of the Elephants but the forest department is stuck in red tape.
- Choki Dhani has been found with elephant against all rules and in 60 days they haven’t gone to the court
- Forest department’s contention is someone should pay for the food now, and then they put the case in court and then confisticate the elephants and then will get the money from ‘project elephant’ in a few months
As a remedial measure…
- PFA volunteer Manoj Oswal has paid 35,000 from his own pocket for their food bills till Monday..
- PFA finally deputed volunteers to ensure the elephants were being walked. Now we have put a full time caretaker to ensure the elephants’ well being
- We are appealing to the general public and donors to come forward and help the starving elephants till the forest department decides to take the matter to the court
- Has a team in stand bye to take over the elephants for rehabilitation the moment we get a go.
Contacts for Clarifications
- Manoj Oswal, Co-ordinator Pune, People for Animals, 9890044455
- Dhiraj Jain, Co-ordinator Pune, People for Animals, 9890793853
- Mr Ashok Khadse, District Forest Officer,Pune Phone – 02025660593 / 02025677918
- Mr Pandey, Elephant Owner, 9322898658
- Suparna Ganguly, CUPA (ran India’ most comprehensive elephant survey; ready to take the elephants) 09845055904
PRESS RELEASE
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Manoj Oswal, 98900 44455 Dhiraj Jain 98907 93853
Elephants taken into custody by forest department and being starved.
Elephant is a schedule I animal and has the highest level of protection under the Wildlife Protection Act. The animals were being casually used in the city for begging, parties and resorts like Choki Dhani for ‘entertainment’.
People for Animals, an organization headed by Maneka Gandhi had lodged a complaint with the forest department about the Elephants being used for begging on the road. On basis of the complaints the elephants and owners were booked on 07 June.2007 but they escaped away. PFA volunteers spread across all highways to and from Pune to catch them again on their way to Mumbai and finally got their mahouts and elephants detained for investigation.
It has been 12 days since the elephants have been detained.
- Forest department has made no arrangements for food for the elephants.
- The elephants were tied on a place for first 5 days, they were immobile to an extent that they had severe swelling on their feet.
- Between Friday and Sunday no food supply went to the elephants for almost 48 hours. The supply was resumed on Mr Nilimkumar Khaire and PFA’s intervention and persuasion to the supplier.
- One of the elephants is totally blind and both are very old.
- The elephants have being frustrated and starved to an extent that they have been have broken a 2 feel thick stone wall.
- Again there has been no food supplied to the elephants on Tuesday.
- In the last 12 days, the forest department has not been able to verify the authenticity of some vague papers submitted by mahout.
- The forest department in unwilling to catch yet another elephant that is roaming in PCMC area without any papers.
- CUPA from Bangalore come forward to take on the rehabilitation of the Elephants but the forest department is stuck in red tape.
- Choki Dhani has been found with elephant against all rules and in 60 days they haven’t gone to the court
- Forest department’s contention is someone should pay for the food now, and then they put the case in court and then confisticate the elephants and then will get the money from ‘project elephant’ in a few months
As a remedial measure…
- PFA volunteer Manoj Oswal has paid 35,000 from his own pocket for their food bills till Monday..
- PFA finally deputed volunteers to ensure the elephants were being walked. Now we have put a full time caretaker to ensure the elephants’ well being
- We are appealing to the general public and donors to come forward and help the starving elephants till the forest department decides to take the matter to the court
- Has a team in stand bye to take over the elephants for rehabilitation the moment we get a go.
Contacts for Clarifications
- Manoj Oswal, Co-ordinator Pune, People for Animals, 9890044455
- Dhiraj Jain, Co-ordinator Pune, People for Animals, 9890793853
- Mr Ashok Khadse, District Forest Officer,Pune Phone – 02025660593 / 02025677918
- Mr Pandey, Elephant Owner, 9322898658
- Suparna Ganguly, CUPA (ran India’ most comprehensive elephant survey; ready to take the elephants) 09845055904
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