SoM
Mysore, Oct 28: The Great Bombay Circus, which has hoisted its Big Top near Karanji Lake in city, is witnessing a high-drama since this morning as the Forest Department officials have declared that they have come to rescue three female elephants.
Assistant Conservator of Forests Srinivasan, who arrived at the Circus premises at 10 am along with Range Forest Officer Ramesh and Veterinarian Dr. Nagaraj, announced that they will rescue the elephants as they were being tortured and they were not being looking after properly under the provisions of Wildlife Act. They told the Circus Management that they would send the animals to Bannerghatta National Park following instructions from the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Government of Karnataka.
The action follows complaints from two NGOs to the Department alleging animal torture and lack of facilities for them.
Compassion Unlimited Plus Action (CUPA) and Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre (WRRC), the two NGOs had reportedly visited the circus premises sometime ago and inspected the treatment being meted out to the three elephants — Munniya, 35, Barkha, 50 and Baby, 55. They were understood to have observed that the movement of elephants was restricted, they were made to stand for long time, no enough free space between two elephants (there should be a minimum space of 30 ft between two elephants) and they were chained for nearly 21 hours a day.
Even enough water was not provided to drink for the elephants, they alleged in a report submitted to the Forest Department.
Consequently the Department instructed the Mysore Zoo authorities to inspect and submit a report. Accordingly, Zoo Assistant Director Dr. Suresh and Veterinarian Dr. Dhanalakshmi had inspected and submitted a report on Oct. 22 to the PCCF.
Based on their report, the PCCF under instructions from the Principal Secretary of the Forest Department had issued an order to rescue the elephants and shift them to Bannerghatta National Park.
The Forest officials had brought three lorries to shift the elephants. They requested the Circus proprietor Dileep Nath and promoter Prem Nath to provide services of the mahouts to shift the animals as they are not familiar with Forest Department mahouts.
Dileep Nath and Prem Nath entered into an argument with Srinivasan claiming that they were looking after the animals very well.
Srinivasan told them that they may approach the Government to plead their case after co-operating with the Department to shift the animals.
The stalemate continued even at 1.30 pm at the time we went to the press as the mahouts did not turn up. Dileep Nath and Prem Nath told them that the mahouts had gone to have bath.
Karnataka Rakshana Vedike District President Mohankumar Gowda rushed to the spot and was seen requesting the Forest Officials not to seize the elephants as they were one of the prime attractions of the Circus.
Circus promoter clarifies
"We have been in circus business for the last 80 years and we are thorough in maintenance of animals," contended Prem-Nath, Promoter of Great Bombay Circus.
Speaking to Star of Mysore this morning, he said that the elephants and all the other animals were looked after very well with nutritional food and good shelter. Few NGOs with ulterior motives were unnecessarily interfering in their affairs, he alleged.
Dr. K.C. Pannickar, Secretary, Elephant Welfare Association of Kerala, had inspected the elephants and certified their good health. Even Dr. Khadri, Assistant Director of Animal Husbandry and Dr. S.C. Suresh, Assistant Director, City Veterinary Hospital, had accompanied Dr. Pannickar, who later had sent a letter in that context to the Secretary, Animal Welfare Board of India, Chennai, he explained.