Elephants In Rajasthan's Hathigaon Are Struggling To Survive As There Are No Tourists, Income

Tourism is one of the worst affected sectors due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Though many other sectors and industries have resumed fully or partially, tourism activity is yet to pick up, and even those in the industry do not expect a magical turn around any time soon.

This is having a devastating impact on the millions who depend on the income from tourism for their livelihood.

In Rajasthan too, which is one of the most sought after tourist destinations for both domestic and international travelers, the situation is no different.

In capital Jaipur, it is not just the humans that are feeling the pinch.

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More than 100 elephants from at the Hathigaon (Elephant village) which were used as safari animals at the Amer Fort have also been struggling as their owners cannot maintain the jumbos without any income.

Not returning to work anytime soon

"It is unlikely that the elephants of Hathigaon will return to full work anytime soon, and while the nature of their work is itself cruel and exploitative; currently they remain tethered for 24 hours, with limited food and water, and zero medical care," the Federation of Indian Animal Protection Organisations (FIAPO) said.

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This comes amid reports that four elephants have died there in the last six months due to health issues.

The cause of death is said to be complications with digestion and compounding health problems because of the lack of exercise.

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In fact, it has been one of the leading causes of untimely deaths among captive elephants.

Elephants that would cover hundreds of kilometers every day in search of food in the forest are not able to do the same in captivity.

This along with the fact that captive elephants are often fed the same food, mostly palm leaves over and over causes digestive issues and constipation. The animal may suffer for months before intestine rupture and other related complications take its life.

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At the Amer Fort, though the jumbos are made to walk up and down the steep road with several tourists on their back, they used to get some exercise, which does not happen now due to the lockdown.

Authorities urged to take action

The FIAPO has written to the Chief Secretary of Rajasthan, the Chief Wild Life Warden and other relevant officers of the forest department in Jaipur asking them to take urgent steps to prevent any further deaths.

FIAPO¡¯s letter demands that the elephants must be provided full time veterinarian care, appropriate food and water and adequate exercise every day. In addition, FIAPO has requested that the department must take urgent steps to rehabilitate old and sick elephants to rescue centres, so they can live freely in nature, with other elephants.

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In 2018 the Animal Welfare Board of India had found that 1 out of 10, Hathigaon elephants were suffering from Tuberculosis. All of the four dead elephants had been diagnosed with TB but continued to be used for safaris.

Elephants are not native to Rajasthan and are often brought there from states like Bihar where they were captured illegally at a young age, trained into obeying the orders of their mahouts by tortuous methods till they forget that they are free wild animals. In Hathigaon the captive elephants are made to work for long hours, against their will, in duress, and denied their basic natural instinct to live as free wild animals in a social herd.