PETA inquires into tusk trimming of an elephant

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A video clip showing a group of workers trimming an elephant's tusk in Kerala, a southern state in India, has alarmed animal rights groups.

Artisans can be seen cutting, sawing and shaving the animal's tusk, using old and rusted tools. During the entire process, the elephant keeps lying on the ground, frequently gasping.

The video was shot at Thiruvarattukav, near Attingal of Thiruvananthapuram District of Kerala on November 6. Such trimming is done to remove broken or damage part of the tusk, locals said.

The ivory, dust and small pieces could be seen falling on the ground as the tusk is being shaved, while large pieces were being handed over to a security person. It's difficult to ascertain whether the elephant was sedated.

According to 2008 guidelines issued by India's Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC), such practices, carried out on the tusk of a captive elephant should be authorized by the Chief Wildlife Warden.

“For cutting or shaping the tusk, a letter should be sent by registered post, including the location where it will be done, and the name of the competent person who would operate, at least one month in advance,” the law states.

Screenshots of the carving carried out on a live elephant were submitted to People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). In an emailed response to CGTN, the organization demanded a probe into the incident.

“An inquiry must be conducted by the forest department on this matter, where few people are observed to be cutting or carving the tusks of an elephant, as shown in the picture,” PETA statement maintained.

Senior officials pointed out that investigation can reveal whether there was any violation of the animal protection law.

“Various inspections conducted by Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) and investigations done by PETA India, on captive elephants used for rituals in temples of Southern India like Kerala, Tamil Nadu. Also, those used for joy rides and processions in the states like Rajasthan, Goa,” Peta said.

TRAFFIC, a global wildlife monitoring agency maintained that the practice is not something that would break any international legislation unless any ivory removed during the process was traded across a border.

“However, it is possible, it may be breaking some domestic legislation,” a senior TRAFFIC official told CGTN Digital.

The team trimming the elephant's tusk claimed official permission was procured from the relevant authorities before carrying out the procedure.

“On an average, elephant tusk grows to nearly 10 to 12 cm annually. It's trimmed every two to three years to ensure public safety when the tuskers are taken out for processions,” T Rajeev, a veterinary surgeon at the spot said.

In this particular case, Rajendran, mahout of the elephant said, the tusk is being trimmed as the elephant was facing difficulty in having food.

According to Amboseli Trust for Elephants, removing tusk from a living elephant could be painful. “There is a nerve that runs well down the length of an elephant's tusk. Cutting the tusk off would be painful.”

“The tusk is cut in such a way that it doesn't affect the inner core which ensures blood supply that might cause pain to the animal,” Rajeev added.