World Animal Protection raises awareness on captive elephants and alternative livelihoods for mahouts in Jaipur.

World Animal Protection raises awareness on captive elephants and alternative livelihoods for mahouts in Jaipur.

By Shubhobroto Ghosh

Photograph: World Animal Protection

World Animal Protection and Pink City Press Club organized a workshop on elephant welfare and alternative livelihood support for mahouts organized on 25 April 2023 at the Pink City Press Club premises.

The convenor of the event from the Pink City Press Club was Mr. Radharaman Sharma, Chairman of Pink City Press Club.

Participants from World Animal Protection included Mr Gajender Kumar Sharma, Country Director, World Animal Protection in India, Dr Amruta Badheka, Wildlife Campaign Manager, Ms. Nidhi Bharadwaj, Communications Manager, Shubhobroto Ghosh, Wildlife Research Manager

Mr. Radharaman Sharma opened the session by speaking about the conservation of elephants and livelihood issues surrounding mahouts. He stated that the state of Rajasthan has recently witnessed Baghotsav, an event raising awareness on protection of tigers. He mentioned the declining number of elephants and highlighted the significance of hosting this event at the Pink City Press Club.

A video of elephant capture from the wild and subsequent captivity was played.

Dr Amruta Badheka introduced the work of World Animal Protection in India. World Animal Protection in India has been working since 2007 on wildlife and farming campaigns as well as disaster relief work for animals. World Animal Protection in India pioneered VERU (Veterinary Emergency Relief Unit) s to help animals caught up in disasters. World Animal Protection has also produced guidelines for dairy animals in collaboration with National Dairy Research Institute and Indian Council for Agricultural Research.

Photograph: World Animal Protection

Mr Gajender Kumar Sharma, Country Director of World Animal Protection in India stated the importance of having a dialogue with the media on elephant welfare and alternative livelihoods of mahouts. He stated that the issue of elephant welfare and elephant rides in Jaipur have to be seen in varied perspectives. He stated the work of World Animal Protection in phasing out Sloth Bear dancing and rehabilitating qalandars. For this work, World Animal Protection was given the Bear Freedom award by the Ministry of Environment and Forests in 2012. Mr Sharma stated it is important to consider the livelihood issues associated with mahouts handling elephants in Amer fort and that the media has a great role in raising awareness on the nature of elephant captivity in cities. Mr Sharma outlined the pain of elephants carrying loads weighing up to 300kg on their backs in the sweltering heat of 40 to 45 C up and down steep slopes.

Some elephants are legally owned, some are illegally owned. It turned out during the bear qalandar survey that the bear owners were performing the activity mostly out of compulsion and not out of choice. Mr Sharma said that elephant rides are not sustainable in the long run and the welfare of a gregarious animal is adversely affected in this activity. A tourism survey done by World Animal Protection across the world shows 80% of people are not interested in elephant rides. The elephant is the National Heritage Animal of Animal of India and deserves better than to carry people for rides. Mr Sharma mentioned the possibility of building a wildlife friendly facility with government help where elephants can live peacefully without offering rides. Wildlife belongs in the wild and elephants have an important role to play in the process of maintaining ecological balance in nature. No mahout wants his son/daughter to become a mahout and it is important to investigate the rehabilitation of mahouts as a sustainable alternative.

Photograph: Amruta Badheka

During the Question-and-Answer session, Arbaaz Khan of News 18 asked how to ensure elephants are not kept in captivity as a wild animal. Mr Gajender Sharma replied there must be multidimensional and multi perspective approach to deal with this problem so that elephants are not treated as domestic animals and perpetuated for a captive existence. He also mentioned the fact that a new elephant friendly facility without rides can eradicate elephant rides in a phased manner.

Mr Khan raised the issue of the licensees of captive elephants and the matter of mobility of captive elephants. Mr Sharma replied to the captive elephant industry thrives on demand and supply and it must be ensured that no new elephants are brought to Jaipur.

Mr Khan mentioned about the efficacy of the two medical camps held for the captive elephants in Jaipur in a year and how to ensure that new elephants do not enter Jaipur by dubious means. Mr Sharma said that if sincere government officials did their job properly this could be achieved. Animals do not vote but their interests matter. Mr Sharma spoke about the three Es concerning modern existence, Environment, Economics and Ethics. He also stated that is important to address not only symptoms but also roots.

Mr Khan asked how many mahouts were ready to embrace alternatives. Mr. Sharma replied to a feasibility study could explore the income factors to offer alternatives. He also mentioned the cardinal importance of government participation is phasing out elephant rides.

Mr Varun Kumar, editor of Jag Jahir publication, asked why it was necessary to protect animals and if there was a hidden agenda in the endeavor to stop elephant rides. Mr Sharma mentioned that protecting animals is part of the endeavor to improve the wellbeing of people and the only agenda of World Animal Protection is to help animals in collaboration with people.

Shubhobroto Ghosh, Wildlife Research Manager of World Animal Protection in India and author of the book, ‘Dreaming in Calcutta And Channel Islands’