To the dismay of a mahout was caught unawares while selling elephant hair to a prospective customer. To mention the genuine point he plucked the hair from the tail, hurting the animal, infront of the buyer and sources say sold it for Rs. 3000, at Mumbai. An NGO launched a complaint with police on Monday, with eveidence.

A Mumbai based NGO, Plants and Animals Welfare Society (PAWS), Mumbai, received photographic evidence from a resident of the city, who saw a mahout selling elephant tail hair. `Elephant tail hair is used to make ornaments such as rings and bracelets’ says Subramanium, founder and secretary of the NGO.

The act amounts to illegal use of animal products and is against the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972, wrote the NGO in its letter to the police with a copy to the Range Forest Officer (RFO) of Thane’s Mobile Squad TN Patil. The NGO has requested the authorities to lodge an FIR against the mahout/owner for violating the concerned animal protection laws.

It's believed that if one wears an ornament, which is made by using elephant's hair, he will be blessed with love, health and prosperity. Cashing upon the superstition, the mahouts sell the hair by plucking it from roots and thereby giving immense pain to the animal.