Authorities fault government regulations for the movement of captive elephants

The Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change announced the regulations for the transportation and transfer of captive elephants, in violation of the 2010 Elephant Task Force suggestion.

In its 2010 report, the elephant task group suggested closing legal loopholes to gradually phase out individual ownership of elephants. Nonetheless, the Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972 was amended by the MoEFCC in 2022 and included exceptions enabling the transfer of captive elephants for “religious and other purposes.”

Wildlife law expert Debadityo Sinha said, “Such an amendment becomes a potential for misuse, particularly for the trade of elephants in the disguise of transfer.” He questioned the government’s intentions behind this regulation even more.

He said, “Such actions run counter to the MoEFCC’s Task Force’s recommendations as well as the intent of the Wildlife (Protection) Act.”

The notice states that an owner may only relocate a captive elephant if he is unable to care for the animal any longer or if he believes the elephant will get better care elsewhere.

Owners are required by law to submit an application to the Deputy Conservator of Forests (DCF) in their region, where their elephant is registered. The relevant authority will get an elephant health certificate from a veterinarian and conduct a thorough inspection of the planned relocation facility as well as the housed elephant.

The interstate transport of captive elephants is approved by the Elephant Center.
Following that, the DCF will write a report and send the application to the Chief Wildlife Warden (CWLW) of the state. According to the guidelines, the CWLW is able to review the report and decide whether to approve or reject the application.

Should it be transferred to another state, the CWLW of the donor state will transmit the application along with a report to the CWLW of the receiving state. The receiving state official will accept calls on the planned elephants and thoroughly inspect the donors and recipient facilities.

The regulations stipulate that the elephant must be transported within three months after the approval date. It states that an elephant must travel with a mahout and an elephant aide, as well as a health certificate from a veterinarian attesting to the elephant’s suitability for transportation and lack of signs of infectious or contagious diseases.

It also specifies that in the event of a contagious illness, the transfer must take place after the conclusion of the required quarantine time, as recommended by the veterinary professional. In addition, the donor elephant has to be well-fed, provided water, and given the required arrangements before being loaded.

Additionally, it permitted the veterinarian to prescribe sedatives or tranquilizers to handle erratic or tense elephants.

The letter said that “no elephant transfer is permitted unless its genetic profile is entered in the ministry’s electronic monitoring application.”