Facts for Prelims (FFP)
Source: TH
Context: New rules for elephant transfers, called the Captive Elephant (Transfer or Transport) Rules, 2024, have been introduced by the Centre, liberalizing conditions for elephant transfers.
What are Captive Elephants?
Captive elephants are elephants that are owned and kept by humans, often for various purposes such as historical roles in forest management, timber transport, religious ceremonies, or entertainment. They are distinct from wild elephants and are subject to regulations regarding their care and management.
Background:
Captive elephants, regulated by the Wildlife Protection Act (WPA), are classified as Schedule 1 species, prohibiting their capture or trade. However, they can be translocated for specific reasons such as education, research, population management, or zoo specimens.
Previously, strict rules governed the transfer of captive elephants under the Wildlife Protection Act, with permission required from the Chief Wildlife Warden. Amendments in 2021 allowed transfers for religious or other purposes.
What are the updated Rules?
The updated rules now allow transfers when the owner can’t maintain the elephant or for better upkeep as deemed fit by the Chief Wildlife Warden. Health and habitat suitability assessments are required before transfers within or between states, with simplified permissions for interstate transfers.
Concerns:
These changes have raised questions about wildlife trafficking and the treatment of elephants, particularly with the establishment of large private zoos like the one in Jamnagar, Gujarat.
