The Animal and Nature Ethics Community (ANEC) Trust, a Kochi-based organisation working on animal welfare and wildlife conservation, has issued a notice under Section 55(c) of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 to the Kerala Forest and Wildlife authorities in connection with the proposed capture, chemical immobilisation, transportation and possible kraal confinement of the elephant Kannur Makhna-1 (KM-1).
It demanded immediate statutory, judicial, veterinary and scientific scrutiny of ‘Operation Kannur Makhna’ and urged the authorities not to undertake any irreversible intervention unless every safeguard prescribed by law is demonstrably satisfied, according to a communication.
It expressed concerns over reports that trained Kumki elephants ‘Vikram’ and ‘Bharath’ have been deployed, that intensive efforts are being undertaken to locate and drive/flush KM-1, and that a kraal at Muthanga has reportedly been constructed or prepared for receiving the elephant after capture. The existence of a kraal is not by itself alleged to be illegal; however, its prior preparation raises a serious question whether the operation has acquired a predetermined capture-to-captivity pathway, said the release.
Under Section 2(16) of the Act, “hunting” includes capturing and attempts to capture, as well as driving, baiting or terrifying a wild animal. Section 9 prohibits hunting of protected wild animals except in accordance with the statutory exceptions. Therefore, the use of firecrackers, excessive noise, drones, forced driving, Kumkis or other methods to drive or capture a Schedule-I elephant must remain strictly within the authority granted by law and the specific conditions of any valid Section 11 order, it said.
Published – September 28, 2026 07:50 pm IST
