Press Release: March 1, 1999

More Information About IPAN Animal Refuge Veterinary Services Education Animal Conditions Project Reports "Loki" the Indian Elephant and related issues How you can help

"The worst case of animal abuse I have ever documented."

Veterinarian Dr. Michael W. Fox
IPAN Honorary Consultant

The Plight of "Loki" the Indian Elephant

Deanna Krantz, Director of India Project for Animals and Nature (IPAN), a division of Global Communications for Conservation, Inc., wishes to thank Congressman Sam Farr who enlisted many other members of Congress and has presented IPAN’s appeal for "Loki" to the Indian Ambassador in Washington, D.C..

We appreciate the Indian government’s swift response to IPAN’s documented concerns about the treatment, condition, and fate of this recently captured 40 year old "Makhna", a tuskless male elephant.

Deanna Krantz and her team saved this elephant’s life by providing proper food, medicines, treatments, and expert veterinary advice over a 4-month period of intensive care. He had sustained crippling and life-threatening injuries while being captured by the State Forest Department. But before his treatment had been completed and his wounds had healed, and without any consultation with IPAN, the local Tamil Nadu State Forest Department authorities decided to stop intensive care, prohibiting IPAN from entering the Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary Elephant Camp to care for and feed "Loki", who would trumpet in anticipation whenever he heard IPAN’s jeep. "The worst thing they ever did was to give Loki hope, then take it away", says Deanna, when she was told on Christmas Day that IPAN’s help was no longer necessary.

His course of antibiotic treatment started by IPAN volunteer veterinarian Dr. Jim Mahoney was prematurely terminated. And he was deliberately beaten on his crippled legs and also starved to weaken him in order to facilitate "training".

Appeals to all responsible persons by IPAN to continue the necessary care and also to supervise Loki’s treatment and to stop documented beatings that Dr. Mahoney witnessed and recorded, were ignored. Loki’s deteriorating condition was further compounded by his being chained to trees in the forest with his two front legs in tight shackles. Before this, he had been unable to walk or bathe or lie down for almost 7 months while captive in a 16’ x 16’ log crate.

IPAN is appreciative of the quick response of the Indian Ambassador and the Central Government in reporting to us that Minister Maneka Gandhi would be investigating the Loki situation. Having crossed paths before with Maneka on other animal welfare issues, Deanna anticipated a swift response and collaborative support.

On February 28^th Deanna met with the State Minister of Forests, Mr. Pongalur Palaniswamy. He said that Maneka Gandhi (who purportedly was to look into the Loki situation in early August 1998) had called on February 26^th to inquire about the elephant. He had told her that the elephant was well because he had not been informed otherwise, since no one was monitoring the elephant’s condition at the Camp.

At this meeting, the Minister agreed that IPAN should continue to provide feed, veterinary care, and see to the long-term welfare of this elephant. He was also very grateful for IPAN’s support.

On March 1^st, with a jeep-load of food taken to the Elephant Camp, Deanna was told by Forest Officers that they had received a radio message from the Minister. Deanna could only view the elephant and was not permitted to feed him or provide any veterinary care.

"I saw a vision from hell. His wounds are re-infected, he’s half his size, and his front legs are closely shackled. He came hobbling toward us, with a heavy drag chain on his one good hind leg that he had to lift high every time he moved. When he saw Nigel, he moaned and tears gushed from his eyes."

Nigel Otter is IPAN’s Field Manager and over the months of intensive care the elephant bonded with him. Loki should be given sanctuary under Nigel’s care at the IPAN Animal Refuge.

This enclosed sanctuary, away from the Elephant Camp where he has suffered so much, needs to be constructed for Loki. While IPAN has the support of many local Indian citizens, financial support from animal lovers around the world would be well used to ensure that he is treated humanely for the rest of his life, and to address the other problems of wild and captive elephants in the Nilgiris, that are part of Loki’s story. We are encouraged that Pat Derby, Director of Performing Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) is joining in partnership with IPAN to resolve Loki’s plight.