In response to concerns raised by elephant owners and temple committees, the Kerala government has intervened to amend the Forest department’s order regarding fitness tests for elephants participating in Thrissur Pooram. Revenue Minister K. Rajan announced that there is no need for a fitness test by a special team, overturning the previous order. The Chief Wildlife Warden’s directive, issued on April 16, had mandated a fitness examination by a rapid response team in addition to veterinary examinations.
However, protests from elephant owners led to a crisis, prompting the government to step in and address the impracticalities alleged by stakeholders. This intervention marks the second instance of the government altering Forest department regulations for the annual festival, reflecting the delicate balance between tradition and animal welfare concerns.