A directive by the Kerala Devaswom Board to reassign mahouts to temple elephants has alarmed animal rights activists in Kerala.
A circular issued by the Devaswom Commissioner mandates the transfer of seven mahouts across five elephants, following recommendations from the Deputy Devaswom Commissioner and the Devaswom Veterinary Doctor. For example, the two mahouts currently handling Malayankeezhu Vallabhan, an elephant under the Neyyattinkara group, will be reassigned to two different elephants in the Varkala group.
Other elephants impacted by the reshuffle include Sharkara Chandrashekharan, Thiruvarattukavu Kalidasan, Parassala Sivasankaran, and Thrikkadavoor Shivaraju.
The Heritage Animal Task Force, a voluntary organization advocating for animal rights, has filed a formal complaint with the forest department opposing the decision. They argue that abrupt changes in mahout-elephant pairings can negatively impact the animals’ health and well-being.
“We know well that whenever a new mahout takes charge of an elephant, the animal undergoes intense physical and psychological stress to be subdued and made obedient,” said V.K. Venkitachalam, secretary of the organization. “Many of these elephants have a history of aggression and have fatalistically attacked mahouts in the past. Sudden changes in handlers only escalate the risk to both the mahouts and the public, especially during festivals.”
Dr. Rajiv T.S., director of the Elephant Study Centre under the Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, also emphasized the importance of building a strong bond of trust between a mahout and an elephant. She explained that “a mahout is essentially the first master of the elephant. This relationship is not built overnight, but takes years of mutual understanding and bonding. Transferring an elephant to a new mahout overnight can result in negative reinforcement and behavioural issues.”
However, Dr. Rajiv also acknowledged that in certain circumstances, such as disciplinary issues involving mahouts, a reshuffle might become necessary. “But unnecessary or poorly thought-out transfers endanger not just the mahouts, but also the public,” she warned.
