Assam’s Elephant Joymala Still in Chains; PETA India Releases New Video Evidence of Abuse

PETA India on Tuesday (November 15) released a fresh video showing Assam’s elephant Joymala (also known as Jeymalyatha) “in chain on a hard concrete floor near constantly, in complete isolation

Image of Joymala Credit: PETA India

PETA India on Tuesday (November 15) released a fresh video showing Assam’s elephant Joymala (also known as Jeymalyatha) “in chain on a hard concrete floor near constantly, in complete isolation from others of her kind, and being controlled with the threat of weapons”.

“She is in the custody of the Srivilliputhur Nachiyar Thirukovil temple in Tamil Nadu. PETA India’s findings refute the claims made by the Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department that Joymala is “absolutely doing good”, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India said at a press conference held in Guwahati today.

PETA India’s Campaigns Manager Radhika Suryavanshi said, “Don’t let anyone fool you: PETA India’s investigation shows Joymala is living a miserable life of pain and fear, denied the opportunity to move around freely or to socialise with other elephants. Enough is enough. It is high time for Joymala to be seized and sent to a rehabilitation centre where she can feel safe, recover from her trauma, and be in the company of other elephants.”

“PETA India’s exposé shows Joymala with deep wound marks on her legs indicative of long-term chaining and mahouts carrying ankushes and sticks while taking her around the temple. After a veterinary inspection visit was made to Joymala on 27 July 2022, PETA India submitted a report to Tamil Nadu officials explaining that her feet are painfully infected, that she is controlled with pliers, and that weapons were found in her shed,” PETA India’s PETA India’s Campaigns Manager Radhika Suryavanshi said at the press conference.

Also Read : Tamil Nadu Govt allows Assam team to inspect Joymala

PETA India further said that no visitors are allowed to enter the area where Joymala is now kept, “seemingly to keep her loneliness and abuse hidden”.

Earlier, in two separate video recordings released by the media involving different mahouts in 2021 and 2022, Joymala was seen being beaten up and the elephant screaming in pain. The barbaric treatment was meted out at a rejuvenation camp for elephants at the Krishnan Kovil temple in Tamil Nadu.

It was only after PETA India’s involvement that a first information report was filed under sections of the Indian Penal Code, 1860, and The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, against the mahout who beat her at the temple. A different mahout and kavadi were arrested for the assault at the rejuvenation camp.

PETA India was verbally told that a wildlife offence report for violation of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, was registered by the Srivilliputhur Forest Range against the mahout who beat Joymala at the temple, but no proof of this has ever been provided. No action appears to have been taken against the third mahout who controlled her with pliers, and now Joymala lives at the end of short chains, under the constant threat of weapons.

PETA India said that the failure of the Tamil Nadu administration to seize Joymala after the first beating video surfaced or to hold the temple management accountable after the second one emerged has led to her suffering repeated abuse by different mahouts.

Joymala was leased to Tamil Nadu from the Assam government for six months. She is housed at the Andal temple in Srivalliputhur in Chennai.

Earlier, the Assam Government had sent a four-member team of SP Morigaon Aparna Natarajan, renowned veterinarian KK Sarma, Additional PCCF, Assam, Hridesh Mishra and district veterinary officer, Tinsukia, Rupjyoti Kakati to Tamil Nadu to take stock of Joymala’s condition after the videos of she being abused went viral.

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