Kerala, India....'Land of Temple-Elephants and their Abusers'

Kerala, India....'Land of Temple-Elephants and their Abusers' to develop additional tourist facilities modeled after Sri Lanka's much maligned Pinnawala 'zoo.'

The Elephant Rehabilitation Center at Kottur in Thiruvananthapuram currently houses 16 elephants and the State government is expanding this facility to accommodate 50 elephants on 176 hectares of forest land...saying that they will live in an ecosystem just like in the forest!

Of course, based on an official public statement, the elephants and their 176 hectares will be shared with the following infrastructure (from official press release): "...an elephant museum, a veterinary hospital with super speciality facilities, a study and research centre for nature lovers and students, a training centre for mahouts, an entrance plaza, an administrative office, parking for visitors, a cafeteria, cottages, a toilet block and a special elephant viewing facility."

Now, how many hectares will be left over for elephants to actually live...in nature?

This is propaganda from the world's most clueless class of elite politicians. They are subsidizing more elephant cruelty! If they did any homework at all, they would have learned that international tourists more often leave Pinnawala in tears, rather than joy! We have produced many articles and videos about Pinnawala, including this one: https://www.facebook.com/elephantsnow/videos/1167437070045035

As a result of our very public criticism of Pinnawala, the Sri Lankan government invited us to discuss improvements at Pinnawala. The improvements are ongoing and progress is being shown. However, in nature, an elephant needs 200 hectares for survival.

Kerala's idea of a natural setting for 50 mature elephants on perhaps 100 hectares of land is another joke of political manipulation. It is a giveaway to political cronies and friends in the Thiruvananthapuram area...and no more.

The government is subsidizing elephant tourism. The proposed veterinarian center, with specialized equipment, will surely never materialize!

If honest intent is to help injured or old elephants, then the government should purchase many thousands of hectares from tea corporations near Munnar or Periyar and certainly not place a rehabilitation center in the center of an urban area. It is obvious that the goal is to promote additional elephant tourism....not help elephants!

Any honest attempt to help the captive elephants of Kerala should be focused on the elephants...and not tourists. Low and behold, modern compassionate tourists will come, as they want to view elephants in nature....not in shackles!

To the greedy self-serving politicians of Kerala...we are available for consultations at no cost! We will explain to you what international tourists are drawn to. Shakling, and whipping an elephant is not it!

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Philip Price