Kerala govt forms team for captive-elephant survey in districts following HC order

The state government has constituted a team comprising the District Collector and Assistant Conservator of forests in each district to undertake a survey of captive elephants in Kerala. The team will submit the report to the Chief Wildlife warden, who will collate the district-wise reports and submit a consolidated report to the High Court.

The High Court directed the state government in December 2024 to constitute a team in all districts comprising District collectors and Divisional Forest Officers of each district to undertake a survey of the captive elephants held by private individuals/institutions in the district and submit a report to the Chief Wildlife Warden.

In 2024, the High Court noted that the possession of the majority of the elephants in Kerala appears to be illegal, and it has to be verified by the state government. The Court observed that there was difference in the name of the owner and name of the custodian of the captive elephants.

HC has also quoted figures to drive home the point that captive elephants are being exploited for commercial gains, unmindful of their well-being. "Nearly 33 per cent of total number of recorded captive elephants have died between 2018 and 2024. Thus there has been a significant reduction in the captive elephant population in the state, this is a cause of serious concern," HC said in the order.

"An updated list of captive elephants as on 23.08.2024 submitted by the Forest Department, shows 388 captive elephants out of which 349 are with private persons. Many of the elephants on the list have no ownership certificate. The name of the custodian and the name of the owner are different as per the ownership certificate/ microchip certificate. As such, the possession of the majority of the elephants appears to be illegal, which needs to be verified by the Government," the HC said in the order.

The HC had said that it was now an admitted position that a good number of elephants in Kerala do not have ownership certificates. "Whether the elephants which have been given ownership certificates are those hunted in accordance with the provisions of the Act is doubtful. No such verification, regarding the existence of orders to hunt, and to keep the animal in captivity, issued by CWLW ( Chief Wildlife warden) of the respective State, appears to be done by the State Government of Kerala," the division bench remarked in the order.