Kochi
The Kerala HC has requested the Centre and state government to respond to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) alleging the illegal capture of elephants in Kerala for captivity. The PIL, filed by animal rights activist Angels Nair, seeks a prohibition on the training, trading, parading, and possession of captive elephants. The court, comprising Chief Justice A J Desai and Justice V G Arun, issued notices to the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau, and the Kerala government. The next hearing is scheduled for June 13.
Nair’s petition also demands the release of captive elephants into the wild according to guidelines set by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the Central Zoo Authority of India. Additionally, Nair calls for an investigation by the CBI or another external agency into the illegal activities surrounding captive elephants, along with the annulment of the Captive Elephant (Transfer or Transport) Rules, 2024 enacted by the central government.
The petition highlights that capturing wild elephants for private use has been illegal since 1977 when elephants were included in schedule-1 of the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972. Nair alleges that a significant portion of captive elephants were born after 1977, rendering their capture and taming illegal. The plea also asserts that captive elephants endure severe mistreatment, including deprivation of food and water, during training.
