An Animal rights group,PAWS,has written to the state government objecting to the use of elephants at the Kerala festival in Dombivli. The Keralite festival of Thrissur Pooram held in the city for the first time on November 11-13 saw a procession of five elephants that were brought from Kerala,PAWS said. PAWS member Nilesh Bhanage said the elephants were chained in violation of the Wildlife Protection Act and Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act. The group sent a letter to the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests of the state government and the Chief Wildlife Warden that stated getting elephants to participate in such a procession also violates a circular that the Thane office of the Chief Conservator of Forests had issued. The circular bans the entry and keeping of animals in the municipal limits of Mumbai,Thane and Navi Mumbai. PAWS said under the Wildlife Protection Act,a person requires written permission from the Chief Wildlife Warden before keeping an elephant in control or custody. Before granting permission,the Chief Wildlife Warden needs to ensure that an applicant has facilities for housing and upkeep of the animals,Paws quoted the Act as saying. The organisers brought these animals from Kerala,so except basic food and water they havent got anything else, Bhanage alleged. The letter requests the government authorities to conduct a proper inspection into the housing and maintenance facilities of the animals and cancel the ownership licence if the facilities are not adequate. The organisers had released a brochure regarding the festival with pictures of the animals and they seem to have a lot of pigmentation,which means they are not well-kept, Bhanage claimed. The involvement of elephants in the festival also violates the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act,PAWS said,adding that the Act prohibits training or exhibiting a performing animal unless the animal has been registered with the necessary authority. The animal rights organisation believes none of the elephants were registered.
