South Asian Business news and information

If you visit to Kerala, the creature that you would see a lot is elephant. The forest of Kerala is an ideal place for the elephants and it is widely used in various religious festivals. The state government of Kerala has decided to give retirement benefits to the elephants over 65 years of age. I am quoting from the report published in Khaleej Times:

Elephants in Kerala can expect to get certain retirement benefits with the state government deciding to implement the rules framed for the upkeep of captive elephants strictly.

Forest Minister Benoy Viswam told the state assembly yesterday that the rules had set the retirement age for jumbos at 65. “The elephants above this age would be spared of hard physical tasks. They could be engaged in light jobs if a veterinary surgeon certifies their physical fitness”, he added.

Replying to questions, he said that the government would also insist that the owners of the elephants follow standard menu for the animal. The rules prescribe quantum of food for jumbos on the basis of their height or five per cent of the animal’s body weight.

The daily food ranges from 100 to 250kg of leaves a day. The elephants should also be given enough water drawn from clean sources. The rules have also laid down norms for the movement of movement during the festival season.

They insist that elephants should not be marched on tarred roads during the summer days and should not be taken more than a distance of 30km a day. The elephants should be rested when they are in ‘musth’.

Elephant has a significant place in Kerala’s culture. Elephant is considered a form of “Ganesh,” the god with elephant head who is worshipped by many people in Kerala. Having an elephant is a sign of status in this state of India. Elephants are used in religious festivals of the temples and in timber yards. However, many of the elephants are not taken proper care. Several times mishaps took place as elephant got angry and and killed people. Hence, the government of Kerala has taken necessary steps so that the owners and mahouts treat their elephants properly.    

Related article:

Khaleej Times

If you want to know more about Kerala elephants you can visit these links:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elephants_in_Kerala_culture 

http://www.palmlandtours.net/kerala/tours/elephant/elephant_tour.htm 

http://www.keralaforest.org/html/wildlife/titbits.htm 

http://sify.com/samacharreligion/festivals/fullstory.php?id=13535964 

http://www.elephant-news.com/index.php?id=1946