The sudden, tragic and unexpected demise of Arjuna Tusker in the operations of taking into custody of a wild elephant has saddened the animal lovers of the state apart from setting into motion a series of perplexed queries thus raising a Pandora's box.
Expert committee: Thanks to the hue and cry as a fallout of the tragic incident the state government has constituted a committee consisting of former and serving Forest Department officials. To what conclusion does the committee arrive is yet to be watched and seen. However, the worst possible disaster has taken place and unless the guilty are identified and punished, the probable findings will make no sense on the happenings on the ground.
Why was Arjuna chosen? The crucial factor which keeps haunting all wildlife-loving citizens in the state continues to remain is; why the hell Arjuna was included in the team of elephants involved in trapping a wild one. Arjuna was given a retirement by the authorities following a successive inning of carrying the royal Mysuru Dasara howdah for a record eight times. It was 60+ apart from having an injury on its foot. Despite the adverse health conditions of the largest mammal on the earth, all those in charge of the rescue operations thought it otherwise to deploy the same making one wonder about their intentions and rationale.
How did Arjuna die? Several days have passed after the passing away of Arjuna but still, there is no clarity on the reasons responsible for the Pachyderm's untimely departure. However, Joseph Hoover, Sports Scribe turned activist, wildlife conservationist and former member of the state Wildlife Board has been vocal on the issue. He claims-"So far, there has been no confirmation on the reasons causing the death; whether it occurred due to the gunshot, or the trunk got hit with a tree...Interestingly the Mahout, caretakers and the staff of the Forest Department continue to have diverse views on the incident giving rise to doubt and suspicion".
Deploying Arjuna by itself was a faulty move: At the same time, Joseph Hoover urged the Forest Department to issue a media release, in case the Forest Department believed in the theory that Arjuna dying not due to any gunshot. He also finds fault in the Forest Department's move of dragging the aged, ailing and retired Arjuna-"In the first case, the very thought of engaging Arjuna is erroneous. He was retired, aged and had an injury on the foot. What was the necessity of roping in such a poor animal for taming a wild elephant? Were there no other elephants or have you given all others?".
SOP nor Postmortem adhered to: Mourning the death of Arjuna in the unwarranted incident and expressing profound grief, Joseph Hoover takes exception to the lapses of the Forest Department in adhering to the procedures. He exclaims-"The Forest Department has failed to follow standard operating procedure (SOP) nor has done any postmortem, a mandatory measure whenever a wild animal passes away for whatsoever reasons. The reasons cited are that Arjuna had carried the idol of Goddess Chamundeshwari in the golden howdah during Dasara celebrations for eight years. Since it was considered a sacred elephant, no postmortem was recommended. Even agreeing to the explanations for sentimental reasons, the question which continues to haunt one's mind is; if so why did the same thought not strike before deploying Arjuna?".
Real protectors paid a paltry sum while Babus led a luxurious life: He also brings to light the present paradoxical predicament wherein the Mahouts, Caretakers and Forest Watchers who are the real protectors of the forest are being deprived of proper compensation while the Babus live a luxurious life on the pretext of saving the forests. Joseph Hoover demands-"Please treat them properly by giving adequate compensation as they are working on a contract basis. They are paid a salary for 26 days despite working for 30/31 days. But at the same time, the IFS officers are entitled to weekly holidays, festival holidays, a variety of leaves and whatnot. What is their crime? If the ground staff do not perform the forests will not continue to remain".
The ration of Field Staff also stolen: He also revealed the peculiar practice within the Department of even eyeing the ration meant for the Field Staff-"Apart from being paid wages only for 26 days, the monthly ration meant for them is also not being delivered in the quantum sanctioned. And now an amendment enforced in 2019 is also denying the privileges they enjoyed so far as the newcomers are preferred to their places. All these anomalies should end as soon as possible for the field staff are considered as foot soldiers in conserving the forests".
ELEPHANT FIGURES
Karnataka Forest Department has gifted 57 elephants since 2016.
(Year, Numbers, State)
2016 - one - Kerala
2017 - 9 - Uttarakhand
2018 - 5 - Chattisgarh
2018 - 8 - West Bengal
2018 - 4 - Bihar
2018 - 3 - Jharkhand
2018 - 10 - Uttar Pradesh
2022 - 4 - Uttar Pradesh
2022/23 - 11 - Madhya Pradesh
2023 - 2 - Maharashtra
CAPTURED
106 elephants have been captured since 2013 in Karnataka:
(Year, Numbers)
2013 -- 2
2014 -- 23
2015 -- 2
2016 -- 12
2017 -- 9
2018 -- 9
2019 -- 7
2020 -- 1
2021 -- 5
2022 -- 15
2023 -- 21
Of the 106 captured elephants, 37 were translocated, 66 were sent to elephant camps, and 3 died during capture.
Of the 66 sent to camps, 15 have died.
Six died within one year of captivity.
Seven died within two years of captivity.
Two died within three years of captivity.
Committee Constituted: The Karnataka government has constituted an expert committee to enquire about the happenings around Arjuna's death. The Expert panel consists of :
Ajay Mishra ( Retd PCCF)
Shashwathi Mishra (APCCF)
Raman Sukumar, Elephant expert from IISc, Bangalore.
An unnamed veterinarian from the Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Sciences.
Hope is eternal: "But...
We already know the reason why Arjuna died.
We also know who is responsible for Arjuna's death.
We also know that the veterinarian (Ramesh) goofed up by tranquilising kumki elephant Prashanth.
We also know that the Standard Operation Procedure wasn't followed.
We know very well that this enquiry will not indict senior officers.
At least, there is hope that the forest department will be vary of employing aged, retired, injured Kumki elephants (not in musth) in future capture operations.
Hope is eternal!", signs off Joseph Hoover.
-Manohar Yadavatti
How sad,poor Arjuna.
ReplyDelete