E:\sunder\Sunder- Elephant.

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( ) ,
Office of the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (HOFF), Maharashtra State
, , ,
Van Bhavan Ramgiri Road, Civil Lines, Nagpur - 440 001
() PCCF (Wildlife) Phone: 0712-2549563; Fax: 0712-2553018; pccfwlngp@mahaforest.gov.in;
( ) APCCF (Ecotourism & Wildlife Admin.); 2556912; apccfeco@mahaforest.gov.in;
( - ) CCF (Planning & Management-WL) Ph: 2556674; ccfwlplanning@mahaforest.gov.in
Sub :- Shifting of Elephant " Sunder " to WRRC,
Bangaluru......... regarding.
No :- Desk -23(4)/C.No.13II(14-15)/635
Nagpur, dated 27/05/2014.
To,
IGF & Director "Project Elephant"
Ministry of Environment and Forest,
(PE Division), GOI
519, Paryavaran Bhavan, CGO complex,
Lodhi Road, New Delhi.-110003.

It is to inform you that subsequent to the complaint regarding ill treatment filed
by PETA, the state Government had issued instructions to shift the Elephant "Sunder"
owned by Jyotiba Temple Management Committee, Kolhapur, vide letter dated
21/08/2012. Likewise Hon'ble High Court Mumbai issued orders to shift the elephant
"Sunder" to WRRC, Bangaluru before the onset of monsoon vide their order dated
07/04/2014 in W.P. No. 2662 / 2013 filed by PETA.
As per the instructions from this office, the Chief Conservator of Forest,
Kolhapur has taken action to seek assistance of expert vets, experts in the field of
handling and transporting the elephant (a distance of almost 600 KMs. from Kolhapur
to Bangaluru) from Kerala State. Preparedness of Forest Department to shift the
elephant "Sunder" from Kolhapur to Bangaluru is summed up as under:
i) Necessary approval and no objection certificate has been obtained by this
office from the Chief Wildlife Warden and PCCF (WL), Karnataka State, Bangaluru
for housing and maintenance of the elephant "Sunder" at WRRC, Bangaluru. PETA
has agreed to bear the cost of the same.
ii) Forest Veterinary officer, Konni, Kerala State examined the elephant "Sunder"
on dated 12/05/2014 and issued fitness certificate for transportation of the elephant
"Sunder".
iii) A detailed plan has been worked out for the transportation of the elephant
"Sunder" which includes procuring of ambulance with all requisite facilities, expert
vets, specially designed vehicle with expert driver and assistants. The Chairman,
E:\sunder\Sunder- Elephant.docx
Western Maharashtra Temple Committee, Kolhapur has given written approval for
transportation of the elephant "Sunder".
iv) It has been decided to transport the elephant "Sunder" during 31/05/2014 to
10/06/2014. As per the advice of the experts one halt is proposed at "Rani Bennur"
which is midway between Kolhapur and Bangaluru. All requisite arrangement for
feeding, water etc. are made available besides lodging and boarding facilities for the
team accompanying is also available at "Rani Bennur" as transit camp in Karnataka
State. Expert vets and specialised man power involved in shifting of elephant
"Sunder" are scheduled to reach Kolhapur on 31
st
May or 1
st
June morning from
Kerala State.
Final report will be submitted in due course of time after transportation of the
elephant "Sunder" to WRRC, Bangaluru gets completed.


Chief Wildlife Warden and
Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (Wildlife)
Maharashtra State, Nagpur.

Copy to: - For information and necessary action
1) Principal Secretary, Forest, GOM, Mumbai.
2) Shri Naresh Kadiyan, Chairman, People for animals, Harayana.