The animal welfare community has expressed deep anguish over the death of Suman, a young female elephant, calling the incident entirely avoidable and a direct consequence of prolonged non-compliance with judicial orders of the Calcutta High Court.
Suman was one of three elephants formerly linked to Nataraj Circus, whose transfer from West Bengal to Bihar has been under legal scrutiny for several years.
For nearly eight years, the Kolkata-based CAPE Foundation has pursued legal action seeking the rescue and lawful rehabilitation of the elephants, challenging what it describes as their illegal transfer and continued commercial exploitation.
During this period, the Calcutta High Court issued multiple directions ordering the seizure of the elephants and their return to the custody of the West Bengal Forest Department in accordance with statutory protections governing captive wildlife.
However, despite these binding orders, the elephants allegedly remained in commercial circulation under private control.
According to reports, Suman was recently seen in rented commercial activity in Siwan, Bihar, where video footage showed her in visibly poor health.
She later collapsed and died, raising serious concerns about the absence of basic veterinary care, inadequate husbandry, and poor on-ground decision-making.
Her death occurred while contempt proceedings were reportedly pending in connection with the failure to implement earlier court orders.
Animal welfare groups have warned that the prolonged litigation, administrative delays, and inter-state inaction have left the remaining two elephants, Bhola and Basanti, in a state of continued vulnerability.
They argue that Suman’s death starkly demonstrates how delays in enforcing court directives can result in irreversible harm to captive animals.
Appealing to the governments of West Bengal and Bihar, animal rights advocates have called for immediate, coordinated action to secure the remaining elephants and transfer them to a recognised rehabilitation facility for independent veterinary evaluation and long-term welfare planning.
They have also demanded an immediate halt to any commercial use of the animals until full legal compliance is ensured.
Suman’s death, activists say, is not just a matter of animal welfare but a serious test of the rule of law and the effectiveness of judicial oversight.
They insist that court orders meant to protect vulnerable animals must be implemented faithfully and without delay to prevent further tragic outcomes.
Expressing profound grief, the animal protection community has urged authorities to ensure that the fate suffered by Suman is not repeated, and that the surviving elephants are protected through swift and lawful action.
