Extortion by elephant!

Newspapers have been carrying the picture of an elephant extending its trunk to vehicles on a temporary halt because of traffic jam or for other reasons on busy roads to collect what in plain Bangla is called 'enam'. Journalists, however, were not gracious enough to write the caption under the picture. They considered it outright extortion. The man (or at times two) riding on its back would readily answer that the money so earned (would right words be begged!) is mostly spent on the pachyderm's feeding and care and whatever is left goes to the maintenance of mahut's (keeper's) family.

Extortion it surely is because no one reserves the right to entertain people with the largest animal on land right on busy roads. The animal and its keeper/s was spotted on roads running through the Savar Bazar, near Gabtoli, on Biswa Road and at Siddhirganj, Narayanganj. Can it be, there are more than one such animal? Circuses have their elephants with many tricks under their hats. They are sort of performers. Even then animal lovers would not recommend the way they are made to obey their masters to play the dangerous tricks. The concept of 'born free' does not quite conform with the manner of domestication. Keeping an elephant as a pet is a serious business. In the past, zamindars could afford such pets. Provat Kumar Mukhopadhya's Adarani, a short story on such a pet, is most touching. The decline in zamindari and the master's love for the animal was so intertwined that its readers felt deeply for both of them.

In the past words went round among ordinary folks that an elephant cost no less than Tk one lakh. If such was the price during the British rule, how much should be its price now? A poor journalist has no idea.

Price apart, the Wildlife Act should be specific enough not to allow keeping the animal as a pet. After all, it is no ordinary pet. If for some reason an animal goes berserk, it can end up causing death to many people and destroying property within minutes. Unless helps reach within an hour or so, the result of its mere tantrum can be limitless. Male elephants have a habit of going wild at times. So there should be restrictions on domestication of the behemoth.

Accepted that in today's Bangladesh a class of people far surpasses the zamindars of the past in possession of wealth. But they are not interested in elephants. During the army-backed civilian government of Fakhruddin, people first came to know that the super rich had their personal retiring resorts where they kept animals like deer --not just one or a couple but an entire flock --and other exotic birds, imported serpents and animals. But no one had an elephant in their backyards for pet. Then who are the owners of the roving elephant/s? The man/men on its back certainly cannot manage as much money as required for purchase of such an elephant or procure the necessary permission for keeping it as a pet.

The story behind this apparent simple road show can be highly captivating. How an animal of such stature came to the rider's possession (or he is just acting the front desk with mystery remaining hidden backstage?) can be a subject of proper investigation. It may be just the tip of the iceberg. Presently, though, such open extortion should be stopped not so much for the act itself but at least for the safety of all concerned. Drivers or passengers have every reason to get intimidated by the huge trunk probing into the window of a vehicle. Most feel relieved when they have come unscathed at the encounter with the mightiest of animals. Money hardly counts when the all-muscle-and-skin trunk comes demanding reward for its august presence in the wrong place and at the wrong time.

Meanwhile, a candidate for the mayoral election of the Dhaka City north had to pay fine for violation of rules at the time of submission of his application. His fault was to come to the returning office on a horse carriage draped with poster and banner. He was made to pay Tk 20,000 for violation of rules. If the same principle is applied, the elephant keeper realising money from passing vehicles on busy roads cannot be allowed to go unpunished for the offences he has been committing.