Kerala HC’s Bold Decision: Elephant Transfers Banned Amidst Shocking Allegations of Illegal Imports from Northeast
Kerala High Court Halts Elephant Transfers Amid Growing Concerns Over Illegal Relocations and Inhumane Conditions
Guwahati, Sept 10: In light of recent headlines highlighting the illegal transfer of elephants from the Northeast, including Assam, to Kerala, the High Court of Kerala has issued an interim order temporarily prohibiting such movements. The court’s decision comes from a division bench comprising Justices A.K. Jayasankaran Nambiar and Gopinath P., who pointed to the inadequate care and subsequent deaths of 154 captive elephants in Kerala from 2018 to 2024.
"The condition of captive elephants in Kerala is far from satisfactory and could even be termed ‘pathetic,’" remarked the Court, responding to a writ petition filed by the Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) Walking Eye Foundation for Animal Advocacy (WEFAA). As part of its interim order, the Court has directed the state government and the Chief Wildlife Warden to refrain from issuing permits for the transfer of elephants from other states, either under the Captive Elephant (Transfer or Transport) Rules, 2024 or via any other mechanism.
The Court’s scrutiny particularly focused on Rule 7 of these Rules, which outlines the specific conditions the Chief Wildlife Warden may deem necessary for the upkeep of transferred elephants. Despite these provisions, the Court found that the living conditions of the captive elephants in Kerala were still unsatisfactory.
In August, the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) had initiated an investigation into the alleged illegal procurement of elephants from the northeastern states. This probe was spurred by a complaint from Alok Hasarwala Gupta, the Founder of the Centre for Research on Animal Rights, India. Gupta reported the illegal transportation of ten elephants from Arunachal Pradesh to Kerala via Assam and implicated Omanakuttan Pillai, a notorious elephant trader, in the trafficking network aimed at supplying elephants for the Pooram Festival circuit in South India.
Responding to Gupta’s complaint, the WCCB instructed its Eastern Unit to form a committee to thoroughly investigate the allegations and submit a detailed report. The ongoing investigation underscores the need for stricter regulations and enforcement to protect India’s captive elephants from illegal transfers and inhumane conditions.
Original Story https://assamtribune.com/national/kerala-hc-bans-elephant-transfers-amidst-allegations-of-illegal-imports-from-northeast-1550948
Category : North East,National,Featured
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