Joymala

Following complaints filed by PETA India and the intervention of the Animal Welfare Board of India, a first information report under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code, 1860, and the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, was registered against the mahout who beat Joymala in the June 2022 video.

In addition, a wildlife offence report under the Wild Life (Protection) Act (WPA), 1972, along with the Tamil Nadu Captive Elephant (Management and Maintenance) Rules, 2011, was reportedly registered by the Srivilliputhur Forest Range in July.

Tamil Nadu’s Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department had earlier suspended a mahout involved in beating the elephant in a video that surfaced in February 2021. The Tamil Nadu Forest Department booked him and his assistant under Section 13 of the Tamil Nadu Captive Elephants (Management and Maintenance) Rules, 2011, and Section 51 of the WPA, 1972. But there is evidence that Joymala continues to be abused, the PETA India said.

Meanwhile, the four-member Assam team in Tamil Nadu to inspect the condition of Joymala and try to bring her back, was reportedly denied permission to see the animal. The southern State’s Forest officials are also said to have told the team the elephant cannot be returned without Chief Minister M. K. Stalin’s approval.

The Assam team members were also reportedly told to return, but Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma advised the members to stay back.

Joymala was given on a six-month lease to Tamil Nadu from Assam in 2008 and never returned, making her continued use in the southern State illegal under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, officials in Assam said.

PETA India recently submitted a veterinary inspection report of Joymala conducted on July 27 to the Forest Department officials in Tamil Nadu and Assam. The report says the elephant’s current mahout used pliers on her skin, even in front of inspectors. The mahout forbade the inspectors from taking photographs and video footage, but they still managed to document her condition.

The inspection was conducted after two separate viral videos emerged, one in June 2022 and the other in February 2021, of Joymala being beaten so badly by different mahouts that she can be heard screaming. The beatings occurred in the sanctum sanctorum of the Krishnan Kovil temple near Srivilliputhur Nachiyar Thirukovil.