Mahouts detained, elephants seized

Forest officials have detained six mahouts and seized three elephants, which were being brought for an ad shoot near here, as they allegedly did not have valid documents.

Forest officials have detained six mahouts and seized three elephants, which were being brought for an ad shoot near here, as they allegedly did not have valid documents.

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Under the Captive Elephant Management Rules, if an elephant is transported from one district to the other, it should possess transit pass from the district from which it was coming, forest officials said. In this case, the elephants, which had been brought from

Kollam yesterday to Kodanad near Perumbavoor in Ernakulam district, did not possess the transit pass. They also did not have ownership certificates, they said.

The elephants, including a five-year-old baby tusker, have been taken to the Elephant training centre at Kodanad, the officials added.