Animal rights bodies wants panel to probe death of 30 elephants

Nagpur: The country’s apex animal rights organizations have petitioned to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change to create a national level committee for investigating the deaths of 30 wild and captive elephant deaths across the country.
According to the data compiled by them, 30 elephants have died between May 27 and June 29, following the death of elephant Soumya in Kerala by consuming a fruit snare with explosives. The incident had created a national outrage.
In a letter to union environment minister Prakash Javadekar and officials, animal welfare organizations Federation of Indian Animal Protection Organizations, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals India, People for Animals Goa, Let it Live Tree Foundation, Kodaikanal Society for Protection and Care for Animals and a few others have stated that elephants were an endangered species and protected under the International Union for Conservation of Nature and United Nations Convention for Migratory Species.
“They are officially recognized as a national heritage animal in India with the highest protection under Schedule 1 of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972,” they added.
The documented deaths are from states of Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Assam, Meghalaya, Uttarakhand and Kerala. According to activists, the deaths in most cases seemed to be deliberate killings that demand an investigation. “In some cases, it is even clear the deaths are linked to networks of illegal poaching for ivory. They indicate a growing pattern of abuse and violence,” activists wrote to the minister.
The concerned activists have demanded stricter laws for the protection of elephants. At present, the forest department remains the primary custodian of all elephants whether captive or wild. Under Section 9 of Wildlife Protection Act, hunting of animals is a crime with an imprisonment for a term that can extend up to three years or minimum fine of Rs10,000. Activists have demanded that the scope of Section 9 should be extended to protect elephants from criminal violence against them.
They have said the national level committee should have representatives from investigating agencies, forest departments, wildlife crime control bureau and other experts.