Tuesday, October 2, 2007

Dying elephant caught in red-tapism in Uttarakhand

New Delhi: It has been 15 days of suffering for 80-year-old Arundhati. The camp elephant of Dehradun's Rajaji National Park, Arundhati suffered multiple fractures on her right foot after falling into a marsh early this month.

The Ministry of Environment and Forests and Uttarakhand Forest Department have now granted permission to the park authorities to put Arundhati to sleep.

Though, wildlife activists agree that it is the only option left, they feel the worst could have been avoided.

“The wildlife warden and officers say that they are busy with functions that they are preparing for the animal welfare week so they don’t have time to put this animal to sleep,” animal rights activist and BJP MP Maneka Gandhi said.

Forest officials on their part say that whatever is being done is within the boundaries of law. As per the Wildlife Protection Act, only the Chief Wildlife Warden can give permits on putting a wild animal to sleep.

JUMBO TROUBLE: Uttarakhand Forest Department has granted permission to the park authorities to put Arundhati to sleep.


The Cruelty to Animals Act has the provision of mercy killing. If animal is suffering and has little chance of survival there is no harm in giving him a mercy death,” Chief Wildlife Warden, Srikant Chandola said.

Meanwhile, Dr Ashraf from the Wildlife Trust of India reached Rajaji National Park on Tuesday afternoon. Sources have confirmed that the forest authorities were still buying time and the papers were not ready to put the animal out of her misery.

Animal rights activists had put stiff resistance against the demand for a mercy death alleging that park authorities did not treat her properly. They had also organised a candlelight march to protest against the red-tapism involved. But for the 80-year-old elephant fighting a losing battle, this is perhaps the only way to peace.

http://www.ibnlive.com/news/dying-elephant-caught-in-redtapism-in-uttarakhand/49768-3.html

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