Domesticated wildlife _say not to it

Elephants being protected under the schedule 1 of the Wildlife protection Act 1972 were sold since years and people were allowed to purchase and use it to earn daily living in both legal and illegal ways. The wildkinds were exploited and are being done even today all over the country. The best example of the worst treatment to these species which are under highest level of priority to be protected in the whole nation was from the richest city of Mumbai.

Two such elephants Bijlee (58) and Laxmi (18) lived in Mulund a famous suburb of the city with their owners who were a family of more than 20 individuals totally dependent on the elephants for their daily bread. Irrespective of the ban by the High court on elephants within city limits the duo were maintained fearlessly. They were made to walk for hours begging on the streets everyday with no proper food, water and medical support whenever needed Controlled by the mahouts who used a pointed iron rod. No proper paper work and health certificates were maintained or produced whenever needed. Their hair and urine was sold for thousands of rupees, ears pierced to decorate them with flowers during festive seasons or on a birthday or a threading ceremony of the rich. No regular health check up was done until June 2013 when Bijlee collapsed in the compound of a garage and could not get up on her own since 24 hours. We monitored her 24*7 assisting the doctors and the forest department officials who had turned up to rescue her. The 58 year old was daily lifted up with the help of a crane and man power for 19 days but unfortunately stopped responding to medications and rejected food and water during the last 3 days. After doctors gave up it was decided to form a committee of CZA to think about euthanization, but before any decision was taken the poor succumbed to a painful death naturally. The best doctors of the country who had treated her declared that she was overweight and was suffering from traumatic arthritis, degenerative joint disorder(other than the external injuries) which was because of unhealthy feeding habits ( Bijlee ate lodoos,chapaties fried in ghee and lot more). It was very tough to treat her where she was and was not in a condition to be shifted to another state as our city and state had no infrastructure and provisions for the treatment of elephants. Bijlee died a very unfortunate death in spite of living more in captivity compared to life in wild habitat where the factor of survival of the fittest matters most. We do not want to see anymore elephant going through the same traumatic and torture in future. It is the right time to strike and raise a voice to the concerned authorities to get into action and set an example and relocate all the elephants to a better place. The best example of the best action is again from our city, Laxmi who lived with Bijlee was confistigated by the forest department and rehabilitated to a rehabilitation centre at Mathura where today she is leading a better life.