Task force on elephants to meet April 30

THRISSUR - A task force formed to protect elephants and their habitats across the country is to meet here April 30, an official said.

The task force of Project Elephant, a government scheme, was formed in February and the meeting in Kochi would be its first sitting. Project Elephant, which is being implemented in 13 states, also addresses issues of man-animal conflict and welfare of domesticated elephants.

Elephant expert Jacob Cheeran told IANS that he would be participating in the meet where representatives of all the stakeholders would be present including elephant experts, owners, mahouts and elephant lovers.

“Various suggestions will be put across and this time the vital aspects of the effective management of both wild and captive elephants would be taken up,” said Cheeran, who has been a member of the steering committee of Project Elephant twice in the past.

With the mercury shooting up, many elephants in Kerala have gone berserk. One of the reasons cited is that elephants are over-stressed as they are made to work long hours in several temple festivals in violation of rules.

Kerala is home to around 800 captive elephants.