Book on Elephants-Anaye ariyan

‘Friends of Elephant’ concept can reduce cruelty on Elephants

Creating awareness among younger generation will try to solve many of the cruelty and conservation issues on Elephants; says Dr. T.P.Sethumadhavan in his Book on Elephants. Recently Human-elephant conflict is acquiring momentum in the country. Increasing rate of Human population adversely affects the Elephant habitat in the country. Globally Human elephant conflict is concerned with wild elephants and human habitat. But as far as Kerala is concerned the situation is slightly different. Kerala, which occupies 1.13percent geographic area of the country, has more than 700 captive elephants, where tuskers are widely used for festivals and processions. Human- captive elephant conflict is an important issue in the state. Recent findings revealed that during the last three decades Kerala has lost more than 301 human lives due to Human- Captive elephant conflict alone! Of which 90percent are mahouts who are the persons closely associating with the elephants! It may be due to the fact that ill treatment, poor feeding and management, over work and improper musth management create stress, which leads to human elephant conflicts. Elephant the largest living terrestrial mammal often faces series of cruelties, which includes over work, improper feeding and management.
In this context the book ‘Anaye ariyan-2nd Edition’ written by Dr. T.P.Sethumadhavan acquires more significance. This book explains different aspects of elephant ranging from origin to conservation issues. Dr.Sethumadhavan who is the Assistant Director of Animal Husbandry Department and Visiting Fellow of University of Reading, UK and Smithsonian institution, Washington DC, USA analyses the situation in a Global outlook.

Sri Lanka excels from other countries having unique Pinnawala elephant orphanage and Millennium foundation. Millennium foundation is involved in converting Elephant dung in to Value added paper that fetches very good price in the international market. Mahout village of Thailand is attracting tourists through their participatory approach. Elephant is the main attraction in the tourist map of Thailand and Sri Lanka. It generates more revenue and employment. Research works on Elephant breeding especially artificial insemination and hormonal monitoring at Smithsonian national zoological park of USA is also explained in the book. The book highlights the measures to reduce human elephant conflict, Good musth management and mahout management practices. Mere laws and regulations cannot control the cruelty on elephants. Extension programmes on Elephant welfare should be given more emphasis. This should be strategically planned and need based in nature. Different awareness programmes catering different sections of the society like Children, Public, Mahouts, Elephant owners, Tourists, Veterinarians, Non governmental organizations, etc can be planned. It should take in to consideration all the stakeholders involved in elephant welfare. School curriculum must include awareness programme on elephants. Need of the hour is to convert all those interested in elephants as ‘Friends of elephants’. Friends of elephant concept will reduce the cruelty on elephants and try to make elephant welfare more sustainable and meaningful. This book is published by Current books, DC books,Kottayam.,Kerala state, India
T.P Sethumadhavan