Judicial Mandate Targets Systematic Welfare Reform for Guruvayur Captive Elephants
The Kerala High Court has ordered immediate infrastructure and care upgrades at Punnathur Anakotta to rectify poor living conditions. The directive follows a legal challenge highlighting severe space constraints and hygiene failures at the facility.
Kerala High Court Orders Overhaul of Punnathur Anakotta Facilities
In a decisive move to address the living conditions of captive animals, the Kerala High Court has instructed the Guruvayur Devaswom Managing Committee (GDMC) to implement sweeping reforms at Punnathur Anakotta. A Division Bench comprising Justice V. Raja Vijayaraghavan and Justice K.V. Jayakumar mandated strict compliance with the Kerala Captive Elephants (Management and Maintenance) Rules, 2012. The committee must submit a comprehensive progress report by September 2, detailing improvements in hygiene, health, and environmental standards.
Addressable Failures in Space and Sanitation
The judicial intervention stems from a petition filed by Sangita Iyer, an Indo-Canadian wildlife filmmaker and biologist, who alleged gross inadequacy in the current setup. While guidelines suggest each elephant requires 1.2 acres of space, the current 11-acre facility houses 35 elephants, providing roughly 35 cents of land per animal. To rectify these deficits, the court ordered the following:
- Infrastructure and Land: The GDMC must acquire additional land to meet spacing requirements and modernize the camp’s waste management systems.
- Tethering Practices: Chains must include cushioning material to prevent physical injury. Tethering sites must feature level earthen floors, remain dry, and undergo periodic rotation.
- Hydration and Hygiene: The existing Reverse Osmosis (RO) water system requires immediate maintenance to ensure safe drinking water. Furthermore, the practice of hose-bathing elephants at their tethering spots must cease; instead, each animal must bathe in running water at least once weekly.
Monitoring, Nutrition, and Veterinary Care
The court highlighted findings from previous inspections, including an Animal Welfare Board of India evaluation from 2014 and more recent assessments by an Advocate Commissioner in 2023 and a specialized team in 2024. These reports indicated failures in dietary standards and exercise routines. Consequently, the court ordered the GDMC to adopt the model feeding schedule designed by the Chief Wildlife Warden and upgrade veterinary services, including the recruitment of additional medical staff.
To ensure transparency and prevent further reports of cruelty, the court directed the installation of CCTV cameras throughout the facility. Detailed data books must also be maintained to log all management activities. The Chief Wildlife Warden is now tasked with inspecting the camp to verify that the GDMC has followed these judicial directives and the recommendations provided by statutory experts.
Source: The Hindu — Cities
