CRAR urges Assam Forest Department to stop transfer of five elephants to Tamil Nadu

The Centre for Research on Animal Rights (CRAR), India, has urged the Assam Forest Department not to permit the proposed transfer of five captive elephants from Assam to Tamil Nadu. In a representation to the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Chief Wildlife Warden of Assam, CRAR founder Alok Hisarwala Gupta said the elephants, Rupsing, Shiva, Hiralal, Durga and Bijuli, should be retained and rehabilitated within Assam instead of being transported over a long distance. Gupta said the elephants were reportedly being surrendered as their present owners are unable to continue maintaining them. He urged the forest department to assess whether they could be accommodated at existing or proposed elephant care and rehabilitation facilities in Assam. 'It has recently been reported that a new elephant rescue facility is being established in Assam. There are also other facilities operated or supervised by the Assam Forest Department. A proper inquiry should therefore be undertaken into the capacity of these facilities to receive and care for the five elephants. Every reasonable possibility of retaining and rehabilitating them within Assam should be fully considered,' he said. CRAR also raised concerns over the origin and ownership history of captive elephants, citing records presented before the Captive Elephant Healthcare and Welfare Committee. It urged authorities to thoroughly verify records of all five elephants, including their ownership history, age, microchip and DNA details, acquisition records, transfer or transport permissions, health and veterinary records, the circumstances of surrender, and the details of any agent, intermediary or consideration involved. The representation also referred to a recent Supreme Court order concerning the transfer and transportation of captive elephants and sought scrutiny of the proposed transfers in accordance with applicable laws and directions. 'The Supreme Court has also directed, in its order dated 18 August 2026 in W.P. (C) No. 743 of 2014, that the transfer or transportation of captive elephants must not be permitted except in accordance with the law, and that the records of the elephant must be revisited and verified,' it read. Referring to the case of Joymala and eight other elephants transferred from Assam to Tamil Nadu, Gupta said the experience highlighted the need to assess the welfare and future of elephants before allowing them to be moved out of the state. 'The Gauhati High Court has now asked the High-Powered Committee to consider whether those nine elephants should be returned to Assam and whether they should be rehabilitated elsewhere and, if so, where. The Court has also directed that any of them found not to be receiving proper care must be taken to the State's Elephant Rehabilitation Centre. This shows why the present five elephants should not first be sent away and their welfare and future decided only afterwards,' Gupta stated. The representation also cited the role of the High-Powered Committee (HPC) in deciding requests for elephant transfers. Referring to a Manipur High Court ruling, Gupta said the proposed transfer should be placed before the HPC for approval. Also Read: 65% of DNA-mapped captive elephants have unknown or wild-caught origins: MoEFCC data He urged the Assam Forest Department to instead submit a proposal for retaining and caring for the five elephants within Assam. Accordingly, the CRAR requested the Assam Forest Department to withhold any approval, no-objection certificate (NOC), ownership-change permission, transport permit or other consent be granted for the transfer of Rupsing, Shiva, Hiralal, Durga or Bijuli from Assam to Tamil Nadu. It also urged the department to call for and thoroughly examine the complete records of all five elephants, including the circumstances under which each elephant was surrendered. The organisation further sought an inquiry into whether the elephants could be accommodated at existing or proposed facilities run or supervised by the Forest Department in Assam. It called for appropriate arrangements to be made for their long-term care and rehabilitation within the state. It also requested that the matter be placed before the HPC, described as the competent decision-making authority, together with a clear proposal for retaining, rehabilitating and caring for the elephants within Assam. The organisation also sought an action-taken report and urged the authorities not to permit the elephants to leave Assam.