Taking note of The Pioneer’s report on missing elephants, the Union Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF) has sought a status report from the Delhi Government about the six missing tuskers. It is believed that the elephants died natural deaths but their owners failed to inform the authorities. This has queered the pitch. Concerned over the mysterious disappearance of the elephants, the MoEF has asked the owners to furnish evidence that the pachyderms died of natural causes.
According to a census, there were 14 elephants in the national Capital but only eight are left now in Delhi. The Pioneer had earlier reported on August 17 that six elephants were missing from the Capital. The very disappearance has caused a flutter in the MoEF and a status report has been sought.
Top sources told The Pioneer that MoEF has sought a status report from the Delhi Government’s Forest Department about the whereabouts of six missing elephants. It has now emerged that the said elephants died natural deaths but their owners did not inform the authorities and mandatory
autopsy was not performed. The Forest Department is expected to submit report within a next few days. Sources said that owners of elephants told them that the elephants died but the question that still needs to be answered is why autopsy on dead elephants was not conductedIJ According to officials, the owners (mahouts) of six elephants, identified as Rafiq Ahmed, Bhure Khan, Yakub Khan, Doorbin and Tahir, claimed that their elephants had died of natural causes but they failed to surrender their licences.
Insiders say that it was incumbent upon the owners of the elephants to inform the wildlife officials about their deaths. The authorities should also ascertain whether the death was natural.
Jobless & homeless, what's a jumbo to doIJ
This is the last group of elephants in Delhi as the authorities had stopped issuing fresh permits in 2003 to check their commercial use. At that time, there used to be 22 elephants, employed in circuses and hired for weddings and lifting work. There were 24 elephants in the city till the year 2009. But their habitat near Thokar near ITO Bridge got disturbed during the 2010 Commonwealth Games. As the Games Village and Millennium Bus Depot took shape, the elephants were thrown out to Sangam Vihar colony near Wazirabad area. The pachyderms from their natural habitat of Delhi are being ‘deported’ in a phased manner to neighbouring States.
White elephantIJ
Elephants — both wild and captive — have been given the status of Schedule I animal under the Wildlife Protection Act. Selling and buying of these animals are prohibited
Following complaints that elephants were being ill-treated, officials inspected the area around six weeks ago and found six missing. It was followed by a search on the outskirts of Delhi and a probe headed by Delhi’s conservator of forests. The department has ordered cancellation of licences in this regard
The elephants in Delhi belong to individuals who traditionally use them to earn a living. The elephants face health hazards from walking on tar roads for long hours carrying heavy loads which cause their foot pads to crack and blister. Moreover, these pachyderms are often ill-treated