Strict compliance with captive elephant rules sought ahead of festival season

The Thrissur District Monitoring Committee, constituted under the Captive Elephant Management Rules, has called for strict enforcement of regulations governing the parading of elephants at festivals ahead of the upcoming festival season.At a meeting chaired by District Collector Shikha Surendran, the committee stressed the need for comprehensive safety arrangements to prevent untoward incidents and ensure the welfare of captive elephants.The meeting discussed measures to strengthen safety protocols and ensure strict compliance with legal provisions governing the participation of elephants in festivals. It also emphasised the need to prevent cruelty to elephants during festival celebrations.The meeting, held at the District Collector’s chamber, was attended by representatives of the Forest, Police, Health and Animal Husbandry departments, elephant owners, the Festival Celebration Coordination Committee and the Animal Welfare Board. Published - October 29, 2026 08:24 pm IST