Uttar Pradesh planning to build elephant rescue centre

Lucknow, Nov 20 - Determined to strictly enforce laws relating to prevention of cruelty to animals, Uttar Pradesh wildlife officials are planning to set up a home for rescued domesticated elephants.

The state's chief wildlife conservator D.N.S. Suman told IANS: 'We have serious plans of setting up an elephant rescue centre at Agra where abandoned and misused domestic elephants could be provided shelter.

'At least five percent of the estimated 700-odd domestic elephants in the state are believed to be put to misuse by private individuals. Some cases had come to light where individual owners were misusing and abusing elephants for begging in the name of Lord Ganesha. This is gross violation of the wildlife protection laws and was well within the category of inflicting cruelty to animals,' Suman said Monday.

Cases of clandestine sale and transfer of elephants to other states have also come to light.

'We have confirmed cases of elephants from Uttar Pradesh having been taken all the way to Mumbai, Pune and Madhya Pradesh without the mandatory permission of state wildlife authorities.

'Sale and purchase of elephants is banned under the national wildlife protection laws. The elephants were identified with the help of the microchip numbering that is done for all domesticated elephants at the time of registration, which is mandatory under law,' Suman said.

The proposed rescue centre would be set up on the lines of one in Haryana where the misuse and abuse of elephants was as rampant as in Uttar Pradesh.

'Like they have done it in Haryana, we also propose to involve some NGOs to accomplish this task,' he added.

(c) Indo-Asian News Service

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