Fw: [Elephant_Tracks] Elephants to Retire With Benefits at Age 65

July 18, 2003

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Elephant_Tracks

Saturday, August 02, 2003 10:10:30 AM

Elephant_Tracks

[Elephant_Tracks] Elephants to Retire With Benefits at Age 65

July 24, 2003 — Elephants employed by the southern state of Kerala

will enjoy full retirement benefits at age 65, the provincial forest

minister said Thursday.

" We are taking a serious note of growing cruelty towards captive

elephants and their violent reaction to their human captors, " K.

Sudharakaran told the state assembly in Trivandrum.

" The Kerala government has issued norms for the upkeep of elephants

which among other things insist that elephants retire from work at

the age of 65 years. "

He added that the retired elephants would receive a good " menu,

healthcare and living conditions. "

" The elephants will also be entitled to checkups by vets, " added

Sudharakaran.

An estimated 33,000 elephants are left in India — a quarter of their

19th-century population — and many are put to work in construction,

logging, security patrols and other businesses.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has accused Indian

state governments of routinely exploiting elephants.

" Elephants live for more than 70 years if left unmolested in the

forest, yet their average lifespan in captivity is reduced to 14

miserable years, " said PETA India chief functionary Anuradha Sawhney.

" Imagine what it must be like for highly intelligent, social and

sensitive beings like elephants to be ordered about constantly under

the threat of a beating with a bullhook at every moment of their

lives. "

In January, an elephant working in the forest department in the

Kerala city of Cochin killed his keeper-trainer, known as a mahout.

In India, at least 42 people have been killed or injured in the last

five years by elephants.

Kerala's retirement policy will not apply to elephants working in

private enterprises such as circuses, which have some of the worst

conditions.

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