Mahout complaints about food for captured elephant
| Date :08-Jul-2019 |
Staff Reporter:
RAIPUR
Office of the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Raigarh was taken aback when a Mahout suddenly turned up with his elephant, accusing the Forest Department of not giving enough food to his elephant. As the Save Forest Committee came to know about the issue, he held a discussion with the DFO. Notably, Forest Department has taken a serious stance after the death of a captive elephant in Sarangarh due to the extreme torture subjected to the animal by Mahout. Nearly, 20 days ago, Forest Officials detained another Mahout and his elephant after he failed to produce requisite documents. The Mahout introduced himself as a Nageshwarnath Ojha, a resident of Uttar Pradesh’s Banaras. Both the elephant and Mahout were detained at the Urdana Depot.
Mahout hasn’t been allowed to leave with elephant as the documental process is still incomplete. Forest Officials informed the documents he produced haven’t been renewed. DFO Manoj Pandey has assured of keeping the elephant at a proper place and of arranging sufficient food for the animal. In this respect, Manoj Pandey stated that Mahout didn’t have any document of the elephant’s ownership, which is he is detained. Ranger has been asked to arrange food & water for them. Soon when the documental procedures will be completed, elephant will be sent to safe place.