Veterinarians and animal lovers at the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals’ (SPCA) hospital at Parel bid farewell to Roopkali, the 33-year-old female elephant who was injured in a truck accident on Tuesday. She died at 4.30am on Friday, BSPCA Secretary Colonel JC Khanna said.
Roopkali was hit by a water tanker under the BARC flyover in Chembur and injured her left hind leg. It took rescuers including veterinarians, volunteers from People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), People for Animals (PFA), SPCA, police officials and the fire brigade, six hours to administer first aid to Roopkali and transport her to the animal hospital at Parel.
Treating Roopkali was not easy as she weighed 3,000kg. Vets suspected that she fractured her pelvic bone, but efforts to get a X-Ray proved futile. “She suffered a blow to the pelvic region, which injured the spinal cord and paralysed her,” Khanna said. There could have been a fracture, but that can be confirmed only after a post-mortem.
Roopkali’s owner, Subhashshankar Pandey said the elephant was buried in Vasai at 3pm. PETA officials said they will begin a signature campaign to protest against elephants being kept in captivity. Elephants are protected under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 and a transmit permit is needed.
Pet control: Bringing an elephant on to any public road in Mumbai, which can cause obstruction, damage, injury or danger to people, is an offence under Section 100 of the Bombay Police Act.
A clearance from the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES) authorities is necessary before importing a bird or exotic animal.
The Chief Conservator of Forests is also needed to grant permission to keep the animal. Keeping a wild animal in captivity requires permission from the Central Zoo Authority.
