Context

The on-going dispute between the Governments of Tamil Nadu and Assam over the alleged mistreatment of a temple elephant named Joymala has brought into focus the prevailing lacunae over private ownership of elephants in India.

About

Asian Elephants:

• There are about 50,000 - 60000 Asian elephants in the world. More than 60% of the population is held in India.
• There are three subspecies of Asian elephant which are the Indian, Sumatran and Sri Lankan.
• The Indian subspecies has the widest range and accounts for most of the remaining elephants on the continent.

Analysis

Why private ownership of elephants is a concern?

• As per the MoEFCC, it’s illegal to hold elephants in captivity without ownership certificates.
• Kerala, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Assam, Tripura and Madhya Pradesh account for 96% of elephants in captivity without ownership certificates.
• Captive elephants are provided a poor diet and inadequate food. Due to a limited diet, elephants can suffer from intestinal infections, lung-related injections, or impactions.
• It also leads to an increase in “black marketing” of elephants.
• Other threats to Elephants:
• Escalation of poaching
• Habitat loss
• Human-elephant conflict
• Mistreatment in captivity
• Abuse due to elephant tourism
• Rampant mining, Corridor destruction

Why it is happening?

• Lack of law enforcement or governance of the private ownership of elephants in many States.

Important Animal Rights Organisation

• Animal Welfare Board of India

Important Government Initiatives: Project RE-HAB Use of LiDAR technology

• People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA)
• People for Animals
• Federation of Indian Animal Protection Organizations (FIAPO)

About Project Elephant It is a flagship programme of the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF). It was launched in 1992 as a Centrally-sponsored scheme. The project aims- To protect elephants, their habitat & corridors. To address issues of man-animal conflict. The welfare of captive elephants. It addresses issues of man-animal conflict and welfare of domesticated elephants.

What do the rules say regarding Ownership of Elephants in India?

• Rules only allow for elephants to be exchanged or donated to temples or between private individuals.
• However, without an ownership certificate, the keeping of any elephant in captivity by a private individual is illegal, as per the new amendments to the Wildlife Prevention Act.

Impacts

• Illegal Elephant trafficking & trade: Elephants are also poached for meat, leather, and body parts with the illegal wildlife trade putting elephants increasingly in danger.
• Threat to Elephant habitat: The loss of habitat due to deforestationincreases in mining and agricultural activities has become problematic, especially for Asian elephants.