Cruel Treatment of Captive Elephants
Elephants, revered as sacred in India, are subjected to cruelty in captivity for religious, entertainment, and tourism purposes.
These social animals endure isolation and abusive training to break their spirit.
Despite being protected under the Wildlife Protection Act (1972), elephants are still captured from the wild for private use.
Flaws in New Regulations
The Captive Elephant (Transfer or Transport) Rules, 2024 allow commercial transfers of elephants and do not require justification for transportation across States.
Elephants can be leased for religious ceremonies, weddings, or political rallies, turning them into economic assets and encouraging their exploitation.
These rules could incentivize the illegal capture of wild elephants and undermine conservation efforts.
Microchip Misuse and Captive Births
Captive elephants often have microchips inserted, but when they die, their microchips are transferred to illegally captured wild elephants, legalizing their capture.
The rules fail to require the removal or destruction of microchips, leaving a loophole for illegal activity.
Elephants born in captivity are legally classified as "owned," which perpetuates the cycle of exploitation, and the rules do not mandate humane birth control measures to curb this cycle.
Ongoing Trade and Lack of Enforcement
Elephants are transferred between States, with examples of elephants being “gifted” from Assam to Delhi temples, enabling trade in endangered species.
While the MoEFCC issued a memorandum to address illegal transfers, the Captive Elephant Rules lack strong enforcement and protections to ensure the elephants’ welfare.
Without stronger regulations, the exploitation of elephants for commercial purposes continues, undermining their sacred status and conservation efforts.
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