Captive Elephants in India Face Rising Exploitation
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Captive Elephants in India Face Rising Exploitation

Source: The post Captive Elephants in India Face Rising Exploitation has been created, based on the article “Rules that still manacle the captive elephant” published in “The Hindu” on 28th December 2024

UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper3- Ecological and Environment

Context: The article discusses the mistreatment of captive elephants in India, despite their protection under the Wildlife Protection Act. It critiques new government rules that could lead to further exploitation, such as the transfer of elephants for commercial purposes and the cycle of capturing wild elephants. Captive Elephants in India Face Rising Exploitation

What is the current situation of captive elephants in India?

  1. Captive elephants in India face mistreatment despite being protected under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
  2. As of January 2019, there were 2,675 documented captive elephants.
  3. They are exploited for religious events, tourism, and entertainment, often subjected to isolation and abusive training.
  4. Microchips from deceased elephants are reused to legalize captured wild elephants.
  5. The 2024 rules allow commercial exploitation through transfers, as seen in the gifting of an elephant from Assam to a Delhi temple.

6.These practices undermine elephant conservation.

What are the new rules introduced in 2024?

  1. Purpose of Rules: The Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC) introduced the Captive Elephant (Transfer or Transport) Rules, 2024 to regulate the transport and ownership transfer of captive elephants and curb illegal captures.
  2. Ownership Transfer: The rules allow ownership transfer if the current owner cannot maintain the elephant. However, there is no requirement for this transfer to be non-commercial, leading to potential trading of elephants as movable property.
  3. Temporary Transport: Elephants can be transported temporarily across or within state borders. The rules lack clear justification requirements, raising concerns about elephants being rented out for religious ceremonies, weddings, or political events.
  4. Lack of Accountability: The rules do not mandate the removal or destruction of microchips after an elephant’s death, facilitating misuse. For instance, microchips could be reused to legalize illegally captured wild elephants.
  5. Birth in Captivity: The rules recognize calves born in captivity as legally owned, perpetuating the cycle of commercial exploitation.
  6. Trade of an endangered: elephants are often transported from northeastern to southern and western states, such as an elephant “gifted” from Assam to a Delhi temple. The new rules facilitate such transfers, enabling trade of an endangered species instead of protecting them.

What Actions Have Been Taken So Far?

  1. In August, the Elephant Project under MoEFCC flagged illegal transfers of captive elephants.
  2. It issued a memorandum emphasizing digitizing genetic profiles and strict adherence to the 2024 rules.
  3. However, these measures lack strong enforcement to ensure elephant welfare.

What Needs to Be Done?

  1. The government should enforce humane birth control measures and stop using live elephants for temples, processions, and tourism.
  2. Alternatives like electronic elephants should be promoted.
  3. Civil society and temple committees must take responsibility for changing current practices.

Question for practice:

Examine the impact of the Captive Elephant (Transfer or Transport) Rules, 2024 on the welfare and conservation of elephants in India.


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