The Hindu, India
January 17, 2005
ANIMAL LOVERS UNITE FOR VEDA
by Our Staff Reporter
They held placards and marched, all for the six-year-old Veda.
But then, Veda is no ordinary creature but an elephant. And for those
who marched down Mahatma Gandhi Road on Sunday, she is also a symbol
of how wildlife conservation fails in the face of politics.
Goodwill gesture
Veda, who is now in the Bannerghatta Biological Park, is unaware that
she is the subject of a controversy. Nor does she know that she has
been gifted to a zoo in Armenia as a goodwill gesture.
The gift is a gesture from the President and the Prime Minister. But
according to the marchers, sending the pachyderm to the Yerevan zoo
in Armenia will be bad for the mammal.
“The climate is freezing there and besides, the zoo is totally
unsuited for housing an elephant.”
Winters in Armenia range from four to six months in a year with
temperatures varying from -4 to -14 degrees Celsius, they say.
“Apart from the totally unsuitable climatic conditions of Armenia,
the zoo also lacks the space, infrastructure and facilities to meet
the elephant’s physical and psychological needs,” they add.
Against law’
They want this practice checked and say it is also against the law as
the “Indian Wildlife Act, 1972, holds the gifting, rearing and
keeping of Indian wildlife as illegal.”
On Sunday, after assembling in front of the Mahatma Gandhi Statue,
the protesters collected signatures from those who turned up for the
march.
“We collected 220 signatures,” Sharath Babu from People for Animals
said.
Mr. Babu says his organisation has urged the city’s corporates and
schools to join the protest.
Campaign
“We have sent sheets to all the schools and corporates in the city
asking them to sign up. At the end of the week, we will present the
signatures to the Governor, T.N. Chaturvedi, whenever he gives us an
appointment,” he adds.
The protesters hope that public opinion will ultimately force a
rethink on the issue, and Veda will be left in peace.
Those who want to sign up for the campaign may contact Mr. Babu in
Bangalore on 9880108801.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress