“Concerned about the increasing incidents of captive elephants turning violent in Kerala, Mumbai-based Zachariah Mathew has developed a new device to rein in animals that run amok. “I was deeply disturbed when I heard that an elephant turned violent and trampled three people to death at a temple festival in Thrissur earlier this month. In a matter of few days, I designed a nylon belt fitted with a remote controlled device that could lock the legs of the elephant by the press of a button,” Mathew, managing director of Mumbai-based Senzo Engineering, told reporters here Saturday.”- Thaindian News

“Elephants ? long revered in India as symbols of wisdom and good fortune ? are no longer welcome in Mumbai.” - International Herald Tribune

“Last year, Mumbai saw the death of an elephant named Laxmi who was hit by a speeding tanker. Because proper medical attention could not be provided, Laxmi suffered spinal injuries before dying a day later. Another elephant in Mumbai was frightened by a fire cracker and fell on a car. The mahout fled the scene and the elephant rampaged. According to media reports, an entire platoon of SRPF and 60 police personnel were called in to subdue her.” - Express India

“Raj Kumar, a 20-year-old elephant, arrived in Thiruvananthapuram zoo from Mumbai traveling 2200 km by road in a 10-wheeled truck last week.
The 2.75-ton elephant travelled mostly during the night as the vets were not sure how it would react to scorching heat. ” - Gulf Times

“Posing next to the tagline “Beaten, Shackled, Abused- Elephants Don’t Belong in Zoos,” actor Rahul Khanna stars in a brand-new ad for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India,. In the ad Rahul Khanna is shown shackled in chains, with bruises painted onto his body. The ad has been shot by top photographer Colston Julian. Why is Rahul Khanna making a statement for elephants in captivity? Last year, Mumbai saw the death of an elephant named Laxmi who was hit by a speeding tanker. Because proper medical attention could not be provided, Laxmi suffered with a broken leg and spinal injuries before dying a day later. Another elephant in Mumbai was frightened by a fire cracker and fell on a car. The mahout fled the scene and the elephant rampaged.” - India FM

“Subsequent to the orders of the Bombay High Court, Rajkumar?the male elephant at Veermata Jijamata Prani Sanghralaya (Byculla Zoo), was dispatched on Saturday evening to the zoo in Thiruvanantapuram, Kerela.” - Mumbai Newsline

“Wildlife groups called for an elephant ban in Mumbai Thursday after a 33-year-old female pachyderm was left paralysed in her second road accident in three years. Roopkali, one of 15 licensed elephants employed for religious ceremonies and processions in Mumbai, broke her leg and suffered spinal injuries after being hit by a water tanker driven by an alleged drunk.” - DNA

“Rahul Khanna, on learning from PETA of the elephant who was badly injured by the truck in Chembur on 20th morning, immediately took time out from his busy shooting schedule in Bangkok to write an impassioned plea to the Chief Minister of Maharashtra asking him to stop the entry of elephants into the city of Mumbai.” - indafm

“A herd of errant elephants that traipsed over from Karnataka two months ago has sent Maharashtra’s forest department scurrying in search of help. The department is desperately seeking people from anywhere in the country who can tackle the problem posed by the pachyderms, particularly to farmers.” - DNA - Mumbai

“Millionaire Manhattan hotelier and actor Vikram Chatwal, 33, is due to marry model Priya Sachdev on February 19 at a ceremony at the Maurya Sheraton to feature 1,000 guests. Chatwal with his 200 baraatis from New York will kick off the week-long wedding festivities with events in Delhi, Mumbai and Udaipur starting on Valentine?s Day. Hollywood royalty and top politicians from all over the world including Bill Clinton, Indian steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal, US hip hop star P Diddy and supermodels Naomi Campbell and Petra Nemcova will jet to New Delhi next month for what is set to be India?s most lavish wedding in years.” - DNA

“People for Animals (Mumbai), a local non-governmental organisation (NGO) moved the HC on Wednesday for a ban on screening the film on the grounds that the filmmaker violated the provisions of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act. The petition, filed in public interest, contended that monkeys, elephants, a tiger, goats and even wolves are depicted in many scenes without the mandatory permission from the Animal Welfare Board of India. ” - The Times of India