Supreme Court makes trunk call to count captive elephants

In a bid to protect captive elephants and ensure that they are not tortured and overworked, the Supreme Court on Thursday made it mandatory for all states to carry out a survey of captive pachyderms.

The SC wants the survey to be completed before December 31, 2018. It said that owners need to have a certificate to retain the elephants.

The court issued these instructions on a petition filed by Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre seeking protection of elephants and implementation of the Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972 and the Prevention of Cruelty of Animals Act 1960. Women and Child Development minister Maneka Gandhi claimed that the elephant population in India has dwindled to 26,000. Out of these, 3,500 are in captivity.

The states will have to submit a report to the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change before the second week of January 2019 when the case is listed for next the hearing.

Elephant rides are a big hit among tourists, at Amber Fort in Rajasthan and Kerala. The government authorised jumbo rides are included on the roster for domestic and international visitors.

The Supreme Court has directed Chief Wild Life Warden of every state to "ascertain and identify" elephants in captivity.

The court has also directed the wardens to ensure the owners of captive elephants have ownership certificate. If they do not, then same may be granted provisionally.

The People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) had claimed that none of the elephants ferrying tourists at Amber Fort, Rajasthan are registered with the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI).

In September, the Rajasthan High Court had issued notices to Rajasthan on how elephant rides were being allowed without registration. In another case, animal activist Gauri Maulekhi cited an AWBI report claiming that 10 of the 102 elephants lodged at Elephant Village, Amber, were suffering from tuberculosis. Nineteen elephants were also found to be blind.

Jumbo Facts

26,000 is the elephant population in India

3,500 elephants are in captivity

10 of the 102 elephants lodged at Elephant Village in Amber suffer from tuberculosis; 19 elephants are blind (AWBI report)

Elephant rides are major tourist attractions in Rajasthan and Kerala

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