All captive elephants in Karnataka will have a microchip device with a unique number implanted in them to help establish identity.
Deputy Conservator of Forests Karikalan told The Hindu that this would help prevent illegal transportation of elephants as their identification would now be firmly established through the microchip embedded near the ear.
This is part of the guidelines issued by the Ministry of Environment and Forests. Nine elephants in the Mysuru territorial range were embedded with the microchip on Wednesday.
The microchip has a sensor, which will display the 10- digit number when used with a chip reader. This unique identification number will be recorded in the registry pertaining to each of the elephants maintained by the authorities.
“At present, we have to depend on the mahouts to ascertain if an elephant is Sita or Gita. If one of the elephants is illegally sold, and another procured in its place and passed off as Sita, the identity cannot be established. But with microchips and the unique number, illegal transportation, sale or use of captive elephants can be eliminated,” said Mr. Karikalan.
The microchips are a must for private players seeking licences to maintain elephants, and it is estimated that there are 190 elephants in captivity in Karnataka.
Licences have to be renewed once in five years, and the microchip of the size of a pencil tip, will be a permanent implant in the elephant’s body, said Mr. Karikalan.
