Experts from Assam inspect health condition of Joymala, the elephant in Tamil Nadu

Following the order of the Gauhati High Court, a 4-member team of experts from Assam, on Tuesday, 20 September, inspected the health condition of the female elephant Joymala.

The elephant is currently kept captive at the Srivilliputhur temple in Virudhunagar district of Tamil Nadu.

The experts’ team headed by Assam’s Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Hridesh Mishra checked on Joymala which was leased from the North Eastern state to Tamil Nadu where it is renamed Jayamalyatha.

The report of the team on the condition of the elephant is expected to be submitted in a few days.

Recently, PETA, animal rights group, put out a video alleging that Joymala was being ill-treated by the mahouts. Several celebrities had shared PETA’s video seeking action from the government. 

Countering these claims, the Tamil Nadu government released another video of the elephant with her caretaker to show that she was being treated well. The Tamil Nadu government claimed that fake videos were being circulated on social media platforms about Joymala.