‘Trying to bring in international experts to treat ailing temple elephant’

SALEM: District BJP president R P Gopinath on Thursday said efforts were on to save the ailing Arulmigu Sugavaneswarar temple elephant, Rajeswari. Recently, Madras high court had allowed a petition seeking euthanasia of the elephant, which is not able to move.
“I have contacted Dr Kushal Sharma, an expert in treating elephants with bone fractures, in Guwahati. He will come down to the city on May 3. I am also trying to reach experts in Guruvayur and Thrissur in Kerala, and international experts in Vietnam, Cambodia and Africa,” Gopinath told TOI.

The BJP leader is also all set to move the high court against the mercy killing of the temple elephant. Pointing out that Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment (HR&CE) officials were the custodian of Rajeswari, he held them responsible for the present condition of the elephant.

“The elephant is in a critical condition due to the sheer negligence and mismanagement of HR&CE officials, who failed to provide the animal proper care,” Gopinath said, adding, “Elephant is a protected species under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, and the heritage animal of India. The Madras high court had earlier directed HR&CE officials to maintain Rajeswari properly and efficiently in a location outside the temple complex. The present camp near Gorimedu was thus formed and the elephant was shifted to this place in 2016.”

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