Kerala has 521 captive elephants-Key statistics of jumbos emerge in the first-ever enumeration across State

• A headcount of captive elephants in Kerala has found that Dakshayani, 87, is the oldest and 9-month-old Kannan is the youngest.
• As many as 521 elephants were enumerated in the first-ever census of captive elephants.
• The massive exercise was undertaken by the Forests and Wildlife Department on the basis of a Supreme Court order.
• Several details pertaining to the elephants, including measurements, permanent shelters, and information of owners and mahouts, were collected during the census.
• Besides, forest officials also examined various documents, including ownership certificates and registers for recording the elephants’ work, feed, movement, treatment, disease and vaccination, and musth, besides the data-book issued by the department.
• The microchip embedded in the animals and their DNA profiles were also ascertained.
• Sources said many elephants were found being maintained without proper documentation.

The Hindu