Not just humans, even jumbos can retire at 60

COIMBATORE: During her previous tenure as Chief Minister, J Jayalalithaa not only donated an elephant to the famed Guruvayoor temple but also organised annual rejuvenation camps for the pachyderms. Now her government has notified the Tamil Nadu Captive Elephants (Management and Maintenance) Rules, 2011, to protect the animal from being exploited or ill-treated.With the rules in place, mahouts can no longer march elephants on the streets or busy market corners forcing it to beg for a living. Besides, making the elephant to stand in scorching sun for long duration, or putting the ceremonial gears or decoration for unreasonably long duration, or bursting crackers near the elephants for ceremonial purposes will now amount to cruelty.“The elephant shall not be used for any work more than five days in a week and shall be in rest completely during monsoon,” the notification, which also prescribes a comprehensive quantum of workload, says.The State Ministry for Environment and Forests, which notified the rules, has mandated that only elephants which are certified to be in good health can be donated to temples with the Chief Wildlife Warden’s permission.Those owning captive elephants would have to engage a mahout and an assistant, both having at least three years experience in managing an elephant. The mahouts and his assistant  must be compulsorily sent for training provided by the Forest Department at the Arignar Anna Zoological Park in Vandalur.Among the mandatory facilities to be provided for the captive elephants, by the owner, include a clean stable with sufficient shade, a bathing pool (10 m x 10 m x 1.5 m  to 2 m) with gentle slope on all sides, ventilation and drainage facility.The rules also prescribe wholesome feed for elephants ranging from 100 kg to 250 kg per day depending on the pachyderm’s height.“No elephant shall be made to walk for more than three hours at a stretch. Walking by the elephant shall be avoided between 10 am and 2 pm. While transporting elephants by walk during nights, two prominent reflectors shall be placed at the front and hind portion of the elephant,” the rules add.Also, no elephant shall be made to walk more than 30 km a day and any transportation of the elephant for more than 50 km shall be carried out only in a vehicle. Finally, the retirement age for an elephant is 60 years!