Tuesday, October 9, 2007
The Hindu
Several elephants microchipped for better protection.
A microchip, the size of a rice grain, will now ensure that elephants-often seen roaming the streets of the capital- are not subjected to cruelty by owners or are trafficked as part of illegal wildlife trade.
On Monday, the last day of the Wildlife week, the Forest and Wildlife Department along with vonuntary animal rescue workers planted microchips inside seven elephants on the banks of the Yamuna off ITO, giving each elephant a unique digital identity.

“This will ensure protection of these animals with the help of digital technology. Each elephant can now be tracked and identified with the help of a special scanner, which the department has,”said a wildlife department official.
Each microchip, injected under the skin behind the animal’s ear, contains a transponder with a 12-digit ID code. The chips are imported from the UK and cost Rs 600 a piece. “we have noted down details like health records, unique physical features besides other relevant info on the birth and ownership particulars of the animals. Being so small, the chips cannot be traced and removed,” said Kartick Satyanarayan, co-founder of NGO Wildlife SOS that carried out the work through a team of veterinarian, wildlife biologists and volunteers.
The owners, who belong to a forum called Delhi Elephants owners’ Association (DEOA) said the microchips would add an extra layer of protection to the animals. “This is like registering your vehicle with the transport authorities. It is a mark of official recognition,” said Mohammad Ashraf, president of DEOA.

The pilot project of planting microchips was started last year. After the latest exercise, the total number of elephants with microchips is 27. The remaining four elephants will also come under the digital net in a week, officials said. The laws of Schedule 1 of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 protect the elephant. This is the highest status of protection the state can provide to animals. Delhi has around 31 captive elephants that are used regularly for religious ceremonies, marriage functions and processions. These animals are also used in the Republic Day parade every year. The animals along with their owners hall mostly from western Uttar Pradesh.