Guwahati: The Federation of Indian Animal Protection Organisations (FIAPO) has expressed concern over the intended transfer of a captive female elephant Ranjitha from Assam to Delhi.
The organization claimed that the High Powered Committee (HPC), led by Retired Justice Deepak Varma, established following directives from the Tripura High Court, was contemplating approving the relocation of the elephant from Assam to the Maa Baglamukhi Mandir in Delhi once the necessary No Objection Certificate (NOC) was obtained from the relevant Delhi authority.
In a letter to Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) & Chief Wildlife Warden of Assam Sandeep Kumar, the FIAPO stated, “We are deeply concerned about the information we have received about this intended transfer of the female elephant from Assam to Delhi. We write to you to urgently reconsider this transfer and cancel any NOC issued in this regard.”
It stated, “The Captive Elephant (Transfer or Transport) Rules 2024, which became effective on March 14, 2024, regulates the transfer of captive elephants across India. Prior to any interstate transfer, the Deputy Conservators of Forest must personally examine the elephant’s current location and its intended destination.”
According to the organization, Delhi, a city with innumerable environmental concerns, including water shortage, poor air quality, low natural forest cover, and a rapidly expanding population, cannot be a suitable place to bring in an elephant from Assam.
“The temple requesting the transfer is located on the 3rd floor in Greater Kailash-II area. The address where the elephant will be housed is at Sainik Farms in South Delhi. Like many other parts of South Delhi, this area has witnessed extensive groundwater depletion and suffers from water shortage. In such a situation, it will not be possible to meet the basic needs of an elephant,” it further said.
The FIAPO claimed that the facility where the elephant is likely to be kept would not be in her best interest and would harm her welfare significantly.
“We also request you to investigate the bona fides of this temple requesting for the transfer as Delhi has no history of temple elephants and despite our best efforts we have not come across much information about this temple and why it intends to keep an elephant in the Sainik Farm premises,” it further stated.
Notably, several reports from governmental and non-governmental organizations nationwide document the deteriorating health of captive elephants and the deplorable conditions in which they are compelled to live and work.
According to the Federation of Indian Animal Protection Organisations, if transfers of captive elephants are permitted to private facilities, which are not recognized as rescue and rehabilitation centres, these elephants will be forced into a life of mental and physical trauma.
“We are most apprehensive that the female elephant Ranjitha will meet this fate too,” it stated.
FIAPO is India’s apex animal rights organization and is the collective voice of the animal protection movement in the country.
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The organization has also written to the High Powered Committee (HPC) over its recent directions to facilitate the transfer of elephant Ranjitha from Assam to a temple in Delhi and elephant Rajkumar from Tripura to Vasoori Mala Bhagwati Temple in Alappuzha in Kerala.
In the letter, it requested the HPC to take necessary steps to ensure the cancellation of the no-objection certificate issued by the Delhi Chief Wildlife Warden, as facilitated through the HPC proceedings.
