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Tusks Seized: Zamindar Claim Falls Flat
28 Oct
Summary
- Four men were arrested in Theni transporting elephant tusks.
- Suspects claimed tusks belonged to ex-zamindar family.
- Ownership documents were invalid, sale to Kerala blocked.
Forest officials in Theni, Tamil Nadu, arrested four men on Tuesday for allegedly transporting four elephant tusks intended for buyers in Kerala. The suspects, identified as Krishnaprabhu, Vijayan, Annamaraja, and Vasudevan, claimed the ivory belonged to relatives of the former Kandamanayakkanur zamindar.
However, the men failed to produce any valid documentation proving lawful ownership of the tusks. While the tusks bore ornamental bands resembling old trophies, suggesting they might be antique rather than from recent poaching, their origin remains unverified. The Wildlife (Protection) Act permits certification of legally held wildlife trophies but prohibits their commercial sale.
Authorities seized two cars and the tusks. The estimated weight of each tusk was between 20kg and 30kg, with the consignment valued at several lakh rupees. The Tamil Nadu Forest and Wildlife Crime Control Bureau is now investigating the tusks' provenance, alleged intermediaries, and the intended buyers across the state border.
