Bringing 1000 elephants to Jamnagar makes no sense: Raman Sukumar

Subject: Environment

Section: Species in news

Context:

On March 14, the captive elephant’s future came to be governed by new Rules—Captive Elephant (Transfer or Transport) Rules, 2024, that regulate their transfer from one State to another.

What are Captive Elephants?

These elephants are owned and kept by humans, often for various purposes such as historical roles in forest management, timber transport, religious ceremonies, or entertainment.
Captive Elephants are distinct from wild elephants as they are subject to regulations regarding their care and management.
Elephants can be found in various captive facilities such as a zoo, sanctuary, circus, or camp, usually under veterinary supervision.
The earliest evidence of captive elephants dates to the Indus Valley Civilization about 4,500 years ago.

Provision for transfer and transport of elephant under Wildlife Protection Act (WPA) 1972:

As per the WPA 1972, elephants are a Schedule 1 species they cannot be captured and traded under any circumstances
Section 12 of the act allows scheduled animals to be translocated for special purposes like
- Education and scientific research
- Management of wildlife without harming any wild animal
- Collection of Specimen for recognised zoos or museums
Section 40 of WLA 1972 prohibits the acquisition, possession and transfer of captive elephants without written permission of the Chief Wildlife warden of the states

Provisions in updates rule:

Provides relaxation under which captive elephants can change owners or transfer.
Owners must submit that they are no longer in a position to maintain the animal and that it must be assured of better upkeep than its present circumstances.
Under the new Rules, the Chief Wildlife Warden of a State can permit the transport of captive elephants within the State or between States.
Intra state transfer:
- Elephant health to be ratified by veterinarian
- The deputy conservator of the forest has to establish that the animal’s current habitat and prospective habitat are suitable
- The chief wildlife warden on receipt of such documents may reject or approve the transfer.
Interstate transfer of elephants:
- The genetic profile of the elephant has to be registered with the environment ministry
- Only the permission of the Chief Wildlife warden of the originating and recipient states permission required (earlier required permission from all states’ Chief Wildlife warden through which elephant passes).
Regarding the transfer of elephants, the Rules make it mandatory for Chief Wildlife Wardens of the source and recipient States to issue certificates that the transfer is genuine and necessary, and the animals ought to have been registered with the office of the Chief Wildlife Warden.
A genetic database of all captive elephants in the country is being created at the Wildlife Institute of India.

About Kumki Elephants:

Kumki (also known as Thappana in Malayalam) is a term used in India for trained captive Asian elephants used in operations to trap wild elephants, to rescue or to provide medical treatment to an injured or trapped wild elephant.
They are used in capturing, calming and herding wild elephants or to lead wild elephants away in conflict situations.