Kerala: Pachyderm receives relief

Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 16: Following the intervention of Kerala Forest Minister Binoy Viswam, a 12-year-old pachyderm ''Kannan'' received immediate medical attention and relief from the cruelty of it's mahouts.

Responding to a report about the pathetic condition of the tusker, the Minister ordered the Forest Department to take the tusker into custody and shift it to the Konni elephant camp, run by the government for treatment.

''The government will take stringent action against those who tortured elephants and no one will be allowed to ill-treat these animals,'' he told UNI.

The elephant, belonging to the Sree Krishnasway temple, under the Travancore Devaswom Board at Evoor, near Chepad, in Alappuzha district, was severely injured by its mahouts.

He also said a case had been registered under the Wildlife Protection Act against its mahouts and the temple sub-group officer.

The government would also give proper training to the mahouts, he added.

It was alleged that the tusker was tortured with lethal weapons for over a week after it attacked its new mahout.

The wild had received deep wounds on its legs and ears.

The Kerala government had recently issued certain guidelines on maintaining domesticated elephants in festivals.

UNI