Elephant Jeymalyatha Caught on Video Being Beaten Again – PETA India Demands Urgent Rescue

PETA India demands the urgent rescue of elephant Jeymalyatha, who was beaten by a mahout at the Srivilliputhur Nachiyar Thirukovil temple.

Following the emergence of a second heart-wrenching video of elephant Jeymalyatha being severely beaten by a mahout, PETA India sent an urgent appeal to the chief wildlife wardens of Assam and Tamil Nadu urging them to enforce the Wild Life (Protection) Act (WPA), 1972, by registering a preliminary offence report under Section 51 against the mahout and under Section 48 against the Srivilliputhur Nachiyar Thirukovil temple and to seize the abused elephant immediately and rehabilitate her at a sanctuary where she can live free from beatings and chains.

The letter also urges them to register a preliminary offence report against the mahout and the temple for violating the Tamil Nadu Captive Elephants (Management and Maintenance) Rules, 2011. The temple has reportedly kept Jeymalyatha in captivity illegally for more than a decade, as she was never returned to the Assam forest department.

The latest video shows the helpless elephant tightly chained by her legs crying out in pain while repeatedly being beaten within the premises of the Srivilliputhur Nachiyar Thirukovil temple. The first video showed her being beaten at a rejuvenation camp and led Tamil Nadu’s Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowments Department to suspend the two mahouts involved – but they were immediately released on bail.

Noting the exploitation of elephants in captivity, the Honourable Madras High Court has directed the Tamil Nadu state government to form a policy on the ownership of elephants. The court stated that all elephants – privately owned or owned by a temple – must come under the care of the forest department and that future private ownership of elephants must be prohibited. This decision comes as public opinion, both nationally and internationally, is becoming increasingly opposed to elephant captivity.