Elephants to be part of Thrissur Pooram tomorrow

With both the Kerala government and High Court declining to interfere with the parading of elephants during the annual 'Thrissur Pooram', the over 200-year-old famous festival is set to be held in all its pomp and glory tomorrow.
A division bench, comprising justices A M Shaffique and P V Asha, today declined to interfere in the PIL filed by the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, New Delhi, and posted the case after May 20, when the High Court reopens after vacation.
The petitioner had sought directions to the state and central government to ensure that the elephants are not paraded during the pooram festivities without permission from the Animal Welfare Board of India.

Bringing relief to the Pooram organisers, the state government has also made it clear that it would not interfere with the age-old traditional convention.
"All conventions held during the Thrissur Pooram, including parading of elephants, will be observed, Kerala Forests Minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan told PTI.
On complaints regarding torture of elephants during the festival, the minister said, "If anyone has any complaints with regard to the upkeep of the animals during the festivities, they can bring it to the notice of the government and the government will look into it. But there is no question of any interference with the convention of the pooram."

The government has already issued various guidelines on maintenance of captive elephants in the state, he said.
V K Venkatachalam, Heritage Animal Task Force chief, an animal rights group, which has been campaigning against parading of elephants for various temple festivities, said they would continue their fight and move the Supreme Court if violations occur during the pooram tomorrow.
"As part of security, it has been decided this year to chain the feet of the elephants together to ensure that there is no free movement for the animal which is a clear violation of rules under Prevention of Cruelty to Animals," he charged.