Champa Kali, a safari elephant, had killed her own mahout, Moti Lal Chaudhary, when he was giving a bath to the animal.

Animal Nepal and Elephant Aid International and other animal welfare organisations issued a joint statement on Saturday, urging the authorities concerned to carry out an independent investigation into the case to find out the cause for the attack and avoid such tragedy in the future.  

Elephants are known to become hostile in times of sickness, stress and fear. But, Champa Kali had her own history of violence. She had killed people in India before she was sold to Bishnu Hari Sapkota, the owner of Nature Safari Camp in Sauraha.

The animal welfare people want to know if Champa Kali and other safari elephants in Sauraha are being looked after and treated as per the ABTA global animal welfare guidelines.    

“The issue of deprivation and overworking of safari elephants needs to be addressed to prevent further injuries and deaths,” they said in the statement. ABTA recommends that elephants should not taken out for safari ride for more than four hours in a day, and at least one hour rest time should be dedicated for the animal between the rides. Likewise, the heavy howdah should be replaced with a simple padding to carry the tourists, whose number should not exceed two.

“One mahout dies in elephant attack every two years. It is important to know what the factors are behind the killings, and to rectify conditions in such a way that no mahout or tourist gets attacked in future,” said the statement.

The animal welfare organisations have also questioned the working conditions and lack of formal training of mahouts. “If the mahouts do not receive formal training then their working conditions are compromised. Factor like this can have an adverse impact on their relation with the elephants,” they said.