A SENTHIL KUMARAN
CHENNAI, NOV 17
Jeymalyatha, a captive elephant at Srivilliputhur Nachiyar Thirukovil in Tamil Nadu, has been under torture by the cruel mahouts ever since it was brought from Assam, alleges Harshil Maheshwari, Deputy Director of Advocacy Projects for PETA India here on Tuesday.
Addressing the media, Harishil Maheshwari said that the captive originally named as Joymala was given on six months lease to the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Board of Tamil Nadu government by the Assam government during 2008. She alleged that the elephant was kept at Srivilliputhur Andal temple is shackled in chains and locked in isolation on the temple premises. The organisation has urged for its urgent rescue and rehabilitation.
- The HR & CE department had tweeted a public relations video in September showing Joymala walking unchained and with access to a pool, apparently happy
- Meanwhile, the Assam Environment and Forest Department has sought the Gauhati High Court’s intervention to bring back Joymala from Tamil Nadu.
- According to the Heritage Animal Task Force, captive elephants killed 526 people in Kerala alone in the past 15 years.
Screening the video evidence gathered in October and in November second week by PETA team to the temple premises to the reporters, Maheshwari refuted the claims made by the TN’s Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment that the elephant is living comfortably.
In a first of its kind initiative TN has brought out the 'Tamil Nadu Elephant Death Audit Framework' with the objective to document reasons for elephant deaths for better accountability. The Framework was released by CM @mkstalin today in the mtg of State Wildlife Board #TNForest pic.twitter.com/FtO780adoH
— Supriya Sahu IAS (@supriyasahuias) November 16, 2022
The HR & CE department had tweeted a public relations video in September showing Joymala walking unchained and with access to a pool, apparently happy. This followed PETA-India’s exposé showing deep wound marks on the elephant’s legs “indicative of long-term chaining and beating with sticks”.
In two separate videos made in 2021 and 2022, PETA-India showed different mahouts beating Joymala so badly that she can be heard screaming in pain. The videos were taken at a rejuvenation camp for elephants in Tamil Nadu’s Krishna Kovil.
“PETA India’s investigation shows Joymala is living a miserable life of pain and fear, denied the opportunity to move around freely or to socialise with other elephants. It is high time for Joymala to be seized and sent to a rehabilitation centre where she can feel safe, recover from trauma, and be in the company of other elephants,” Maheshwari said.
PETA-India members said no action appears to have been taken against the abusers of Joymala despite complaints registered by Srivilliputhur Forest Range against the mahouts for wildlife offence under the Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972. The mahouts also violated the provisions of The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act of 1960, activists said.
Meanwhile, the Assam Environment and Forest Department has sought the Gauhati High Court’s intervention to bring back Joymala from Tamil Nadu.
Data indicate that many people have lost their lives to abused elephants that retaliate. According to the Heritage Animal Task Force, captive elephants killed 526 people in Kerala alone in the past 15 years.
Such examples in Tamil Nadu include the Assam-origin Deivanai, who killed her mahout at the Subramaniya Swami temple in Madurai, Masini, who is kept at the Samayapuram Mariamman temple in Trichy, and Madhumathi, who was used in a temple festival in Madurai.
(A Senthil Kumaran is a Chennai-based Freelance Correspondent)
