New Delhi: The Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) has approached the Supreme Court with an inspection report on this year's Thrissur Pooram. The AWBI inspection team, including a veterinarian and other animal welfare experts, inspected the elephants during the parade and found that injured elephants were used for the festival.

The report stated that the paraded elephants were suffering from wounds hidden with black material, elephants with impaired vision and also cracked nails were used and the use of banned torture devices.

The Kerala Govt had earlier asked the temple authorities to follow the guidelines issued by the High Court and the district administration for the festival.

The inspection report also states that out of the 67 elephants paraded, 31 were found to be apparently illegal. The report was submitted to the SC with photographs and videos and stated that elephants were subjected to cruelty in violation of the SC orders, the Kerala High Court and various animal-protection laws.

The full report can be read here with photographs of injured elephants