Elephant death forces Pimpri-Chinchwad civic body to look into animal care

The sad demise of elephant Chanchala, found abandoned in a nala, while undergoing treatment, may have finally woken up the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) to take measures towards responsible animal care.

The 40-year-old injured female, which was left in pain by its mahout, and later shifted to the Manikdoh Rehabilitation Centre in Junnar, died on Friday.

The civic body is likely to introduce a system of issuing licences to animal owners. The licences will help in checking animal use and its safety. The PCMC had planned to launch this system a few years ago, but it failed to take shape.

Chanchala’s death has forced the civic administration to contemplate on the system again.

Last month, a camel had fallen into a 20-ft ditch in Chinchwad and injured its leg. PCMC veterinary chief Dr Satish Gore said, “There is a need to have enough data covering the history of animals and its owners. Often the owners of camels, horses and elephants use these animals for joyrides, marriage processions and alms and leave them unattended when they suffer injuries. This needs to stop and we are planning to implement compulsory licences for animal owners.”

The licences will also provide verification details whether the animal is fit for use or not, besides its health condition. It will issue registration number, identification mark and animal’s history. The scheme is awaiting civic committee’s approval.

Meanwhile, animal activists have demanded a total ban on use of animals at public places.

“Sometimes animals can get violent and cause serious injury to people,” animal activist Amruta Ubale said.

“It’s better to ban animal use and a punitive law should be implemented,” she said.