Handout image

A 47-year-old captive elephant named Laxmi from Assam, imported into Kanhmun Forest Range of Kwasthah Division in Mizoram died a few weeks ago.

Also read: 30 percent decline in captive elephant population in Assam

In a most bizarre occurance, the body was cut up and the meat was consumed by the villagers.

Ironically, there was no presence of any personnel from the Mizoram Forest epartment to prevent, monitor or report such an atrocity!

The pictures had gone viral all over the internet recently.

The ownership certificate

The owner, one Md Mastufa Ahmed Laskar of Sonai in Cachar district of Assam had leased the elephant to one Pu Khualhina of Kanhmun in Mizoram.

Also read: Elephant smugglers network run across Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland

Her ownership certificate dated 1.09.2009 was given from office of conservator of forests, southern Assam Circle in Silchar and owner claimed ‘legal heirship’.

The validity of this ownership certificate expired in August 2014.

The elephant died of a heart attack, as quoted by a local worker.

The chief wildlife warden of Mizoram directed to contact the concerned DFO in charge, who gave the registration letter for the elephant.

As per reports and information from the local people who live near this area, this elephant was badly overworked which led to her death.

Also read: Traders in Bihar and UP sold 167 Assam elephants in Sonepur Fair

The ownership certificate

Notably, there are other elephants, all from Assam, who are overworked and are in poor physical condition and health in Mizoram.

According to existing rule, any person in possession of an elephant has to comply with the 2008 guidelines issued by the MoEFCC as well as the standards/norms for recognition of Elephant Rehabilitation/Rescue Centres under Section 42 of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, issued by the MoEFCC on September 29, 2017, in particular on the following issues:

  • Space and housing facilities
  • Feeding
  • Workload and retirement
  • Healthcare facilities
  • Record-keeping
  • Protection from any form of cruelty

However, all these issues are grossly violated in Mizoram that led to the death of this captive elephant.