11th captive jumbo dies in Ker; outfit alleges wrong treatment

A 28-year-old captive jumbo, suffering from intestinal problems for two days, today died at the elephant shelter of the famous Guruvayur Sree Krishna Temple in Thrissur district of Kerala today.
With this, the number of deaths of captive jumbos this year has risen to 11.
Heritage Animal Task Force, a state-based animal rights campaigner, alleged that the jumbo named Junior Achuthan, died due to "torture, neglect and experimental veterinary treatment by irresponsible veterinarians."
The Task Force has sent a letter to Kerala police chief and Chennai-based Animal Welfare Board of India in this regard demanding their intervention in the issue.

V K Venkitachalam, secretary, HATF, alleged that "experimental treatment" by some veterinarians and administering of steroids without due consultation with senior experts had caused the death of the jumbo.
"Faulty" methods of administering medicines has caused sudden death of elephants in captivity in Kerala for the past few years, he said in the letter.

Guruvayur Devaswom, the temple management body which keeps 51 elephants in its jumbo shelter, has no record for the treatment of elephants, he alleged.
"The Devaswom has received plenty of recommendations from Kerala Forest Department to adhere to a protocol for treatment of elephants. But, they have failed to implement the treatment protocol," he said.

The activist also wanted AWBI to issue strict orders to state forest authorities to depute a team led by the head of pathological department of Mannuthy Veterinary University for conducting the post-mortem.