Vanishing Giants

Posted on January 3, 2008. Filed under: Documentary Films in Chhattisgarh | Tags: Animal, Chhattisgarh, documentary, Documentary film, elephant, Green Oscar Award, Mike Pandey, Panda, Wildscreen |

Vanishing Giants

Winner of the Panda or Green Oscar Award at Wildscreen 2004.

The brutal capture, torture and subsequent death of a young tusker in a capture operation authorized by the government prompted Mike Pandey to stop filming his documentary on ‘Elephants in Crisis’ and turn it into a news feature.

This news feature exposes the cruel and archaic methods of capture being used with no concern for the animal, a protected and endangered species.

The news feature is a protest and demand for immediate cessation of capture of elephants in this brutal way and a call for policy changes if elephants are to be protected.

Within 3 days of the release of this news feature the Government of India suspended all capture of wild elephants. Individuals in charge of the botched capture operation were suspended.

The news created international outrage International news agencies picked it and activists from all over the world joined in triggering a global signature campaign.

In India changes in policies and rules were made at a national level ensuring that all future captures take place with modern facilities and in the presence of experts to avoid trauma and cruelty after capture. Elephant welfare became top priority.