Puri Rath Yatra: Animal Lovers Oppose Use Of Elephants To Pull Chariots

Bhubaneswar: The Rath Yatra issue has taken a new turn with animal lovers raising their voice against use of elephants for pulling the chariots as suggested by the Orissa High Court.

Jiban Ballav Das, secretary of the Odisha chapter of animal welfare organisation ”People for Animals” said an elephant named ”Laxmi” hired for the Ratha Yatra died of pneumonia after participating in the festival in 2002, according to a report of Sambad English.

“Animal lovers across the state urge the administration not to use elephants for pulling the chariots during the Ratha Yatra festival, thus risking the lives of the animals and the people when alternative arrangements can be made,” Das said.

“When people are allowed to congregate in other places for their necessities, why cannot they pull the chariots following COVID-19 safety norms?” he asked.

As a Schedule I animal under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, elephants should not be kept in captivity unless required under special circumstances with permission from the chief wildlife warden of the state, Das said.

Besides, transportation of heavy animals like elephants will subject them to extreme stress, pain and can even cause death, he added.

While the state government is yet to announce its decision on the Rath Yatra in Puri scheduled for June 23, the High Court hearing PIL on the matter on June 9 had suggested that the government may use heavy machinery or elephants to pull the chariots to prevent congregation of devotees. The Supreme Court will hear another PIL in this regard on Thursday.

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