Captive Elephants of Karnataka
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Captive Elephants of Karnataka An investigation into the Population Status, Management and Welfare Significance Surendra Varma, P. Anur Reddy, S.R. Sujata, Suparna Ganguly and Rajendra Hasbhavi Elephants in Captivity- CUPA/ANCF Technical Report 3a Captive Elephants of Karnataka An investigation into the Population Status, Management and Welfare Significance Surendra Varma1, P. Anur Reddy2, S.R. Sujata3a, Suparna Ganguly3b and Rajendra Hasbhavi4 Elephants in Captivity- CUPA/ANCF Technical Report 3a 1: Research Scientist, Asian Nature Conservation Foundation, Innovation Centre, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore - 560 012, Karnataka; 2: Chief Conservator of Forests, O/o Chief Wildlife Warden, Government of Karnataka, 2nd floor, Aranyabhavan, 18th cross, Malleswaram, Bangalore- 560 003, Karnataka; 3a: Honorary President, 3b: Researcher, Compassion Unlimited Plus Action (CUPA), Veterinary College Campus, Hebbal, Bangalore 560 024, & Wildlife Rescue & Rehabilitation Centre (WRRC), Bannerghatta Biological Park, Bangalore – 560083, Karnataka; 4: Nisarga, Old. 59, New. 27, 1st ‘A’ Main Road, West of Chord, Mahalakshmi Layout Entrance, Bangalore -560086, Karnataka Published by Compassion Unlimited Plus Action (CUPA) Veterinary College Campus, Hebbal, Bangalore 560 024 www.cupabangalore.org In collaboration with Asian Nature Conservation Foundation (ANCF) Innovation Centre, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560 012 www.asiannature.org Title: Captive Elephants of Karnataka Authors: Surendra Varma, P. Anur Reddy, S.R.Sujata, Suparna Ganguly and Rajendra Hasbhavi Suggested citation: Varma, S., Reddy, P.A., Sujata, S.R., Ganguly,S., Hasbhavi R. (2008). Captive Elephants of Karnataka; An investigation into the population status, management and welfare significance. Elephants in Captivity: CUPA/ANCF-Technical Report No. 3a. Compassion Unlimited Plus Action (CUPA) and Asian Nature Conservation Foundation (ANCF), Bangalore, India Copyright ©CUPA/ANCF First limited Edition 2008 Published by CUPA & ANCF ISBN 978-81-910465-1-9 All rights reserved. Reproduction and dissemination of material in this publication for educational or non-commercial purposes is permitted without any prior permission from the copyright holders provided the source is fully acknowledged and appropriate credit is given. Reproduction for commercial purposes is permissible only with written permission of the copyright holders. Application for such permission should be addressed to the publishers To order copy of this book, please write to Compassion Unlimited Plus Action (CUPA) Veterinary College Campus, Hebbal Bangalore 560 024 Email: [email protected] Or Publications officer, Asian Nature Conservation Foundation (ANCF) Innovation Centre Indian Institute of Science Bangalore 560 012 Email: [email protected] Dedicated to Late Dr. Vishwanath For his vision and service to animal welfare 4 CONTENTS Preface 1 Acknowledgments 3 Section 1: Captive elephants of Karnataka 5 Executive summary 6 Recommendations 9 Forest camp and zoo elephants 9 Space 9 Water 10 Diet 10 Exercise and work 11 Training 11 Reproduction 12 Veterinary care 12 Equipment related to handling animals 13 Body measurements 13 Maintenance of records 14 Overall management of zoos 14 Funds 15 Elephant mahouts/cawadis 15 Transfer or exchange of elephants among facilities 15 Adoption of elephant FCs/zoos 16 Temple/Mutt elephants 16 Permission-giving authority 17 Animal care 18 Food and water 18 Health care 19 Work conditions 19 Festival elephants 20 Logging elephants 20 Circus elephants 21 Privately owned elephants 21 Mahout/Cawadi welfare 22 Basic facilities 22 Social Security 22 Management 22 Documentation 23 Crisis management 23 Introduction 24 Objectives 24 Method and data-processing protocols 24 Insights on rating 25 Results 26 Population status 27 Source of elephants 27 Shelter 28 Water and associated features 29 Sleep 31 Opportunities for walk 32 Social interaction 32 Chaining 34 Observed behaviour 36 Work 37 Food provisioning 39 Reproductive status 40 Health status and veterinary routine 41 Veterinary personnel and infrastructure 42 Mahout/cawadi welfare status 43 Socio-economic status 44 Professional experience 45 Overall rating across regimes 46 Discussion 46 References 47 Section 2 Captive elephants in the forest camps of Karnataka State 49 Executive summary 50 Introduction 53 Objective of the study 53 Method 53 Results 54 Population status 55 Source of the elephant 55 Type of previous owner 55 Shelter 55 Water availability and quantity for drinking and bathing 57 Availability of rest and resting place 59 Walk 60 Interaction with other elephants 61 Training 62 Observed behaviour 62 Chaining 64 Nature of work 66 Provision of food 66 Reproductive status 68 Health status 71 Veterinary care and facilities 72 Infrastructure 73 Mahout/cawadi welfare status and work experience 74 Comparison of rating values between elephants and mahout/cawadi 79 Discussion 80 References 82 Section 3 Captive elephants in Zoos in Karnataka State 83 Section 3a Captive elephants in Bannerghatta Biological Park (BBP) 84 Executive summary 85 Introduction 87 Objective 87 Method 87 Results 88 Population status 88 Source of elephants 88 Number of mahouts changed 88 Shelter 88 Water 88 Walk 89 Social interaction 90 Chaining 91 Work 92 Food provisioning 93 Reproductive status 94 Health status and veterinary routine 95 Veterinary personnel and infrastructure availability 96 Welfare status of mahout 97 Discussion 99 References 101 Section 3b Captive elephants in the Chamarajendra Zoological Garden (Mysore Zoo) 102 Executive summary 103 Introduction 105 Objective 105 Method 105 Results 106 Population status of elephants 106 Source of elephants 107 Shelter 107 Water 108 Sleep and related features 110 Walk and social interaction 110 Chaining 112 Behaviour 112 Work 113 Food provisioning 113 Reproductive status 114 Health status and veterinary care 115 Veterinary personnel and infrastructure 116 Welfare of the mahout 117 Discussion 120 References 122 Section 4 Captive elephants of temples of Karnataka State 125 Executive summary 126 Introduction 128 Objective 128 Method 128 Results 129 Population status 129 Origin of the captive elephant 129 Type of previous owner 130 Shelter 130 Water and related parameters 132 Sleep and related parameters 134 Walk and related parameters 135 Social interaction 136 Training 138 Behavioural parameters 138 Work type 140 Provision of food 141 Free-ranging status 142 Reproductive status 144 Health status and veterinary care 145 Status of infrastructure 149 Mahout/cawadi status 149 Overall welfare status of captive elephants in temples 152 Discussion 153 References 156 Section 5 Captive elephants under private ownership 159 Section 5a Captive elephants of Aane-Mane Foundation 160 Executive summary 161 Introduction 163 Objective 163 Method 163 Result 164 Population status 164 Source of elephant 164 Shelter 165 Water 166 Sleep and related features 166 Walk and social interaction 167 Chaining 167 Behaviour 167 Work 168 Food provisioning 168 Reproductive status 169 Health status and veterinary care 169 Welfare status of the mahout 170 Discussion 172 References 174 Section 5b Captive elephants of Mysore Palace 175 Executive summary 177 Introduction 178 Objective 178 Method 178 Result 178 Population status 179 Shelter 179 Water 179 Sleep and related features 180 Walk and social interaction 181 Chaining 182 Behaviour 183 Work 184 Food provisioning 185 Reproductive status 186 Health status and veterinary care 186 Welfare of the mahout 187 Discussion 190 References 191 Section 6 Captive elephants in Circus 193 Executive summary 194 Introduction 196 Objectives 196 Methods 196 Results 196 Status of the elephants 196 Source of the elephants 196 Purpose of keeping 197 Shelter 197 Water 197 Sleep 198 Opportunity for exercise 199 Interaction 199 Observed Behaviour 199 Work 199 Provision of food 200 Reproduction 200 Health 200 Overall rating pattern 201 Socio-economic status of the mahout 202 Discussion 203 References 204 Preface Karnataka supports one of the last remaining viable habitats and populations of Asian Elephants. Similarly, the number of captive elephants in the state is also significant. As per the records, there are about 163 captive elephants (under five different management regimes). The majority of the elephants belong to the forest department; the department has captive elephants at its major forest camp sites like Bandipur, Nagarahole, Sakrebyle, Dubare. The government run zoos Bannerghatta Biological Park (BBP) and Chamarajendra Zoolgical Garden or Mysore Zoo, too have captive elephants. Most of the private elephants are with temples and mutts. Notable private holdings are the seven elephants of Maharaja of Mysore and Aane Mane Foundation which has three elephants. Collecting data from these management regimes was a unique experience, which focused on the actual status of the animal and methods that are adapted to take care of both the elephant and its handler. This investigation was focused on understanding the problems faced in keeping elephants as observed in the different management systems, its effect on the welfare of the elephants/handlers, and aims to serve as a baseline data for solutions, which would in turn help in better management. A group comprising wildlife experts, veterinary doctors, researchers and NGOs was assembled to review the datasheet which was developed by the ANCF/CUPA research team. The detailed datasheet deals with all the features like elephant measurements, status