Supreme Court orders DNA profiling for captive elephants
The Supreme Court has directed the MoEFCC and CEHWC to submit a report on DNA profiling of all captive elephants and to upload data to the Gajah Suchana app, citing rising concerns over the welfare and healthcare of the 2,725 elephants currently in captivity.
The Supreme Court has asked the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and the Captive Elephant Healthcare and Welfare Committee to submit a comprehensive report on DNA profiling of all captive elephants and to upload the data to the Gajah Suchana app.
The court’s order, issued on August 18, also requires a mechanism for the periodic renewal of ownership certificates for captive elephants.
Data presented by the Centre to the Supreme Court last week show that the country’s captive elephant population has risen by 50 since the last census in 2019, while figures for privately owned elephants, circuses and temples remain unchanged.
The top court directed the Centre to issue mandatory guidelines for establishing elephant clinics offering specialised services for the welfare of captive elephants. The CEHWC has also been directed to prescribe minimum standards for the housing, healthcare and upkeep of elephants in captivity.
The matter will next be heard on October 29. The court has clarified that its present concern is not ownership of captive elephants, but their upkeep, well-being and healthcare - issues central to the petition before it.
CJI calls for DNA profiling report
A bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant on August 18 directed the ministry of environment, forest and climate change (MoEFCC) and the Captive Elephant Healthcare and Welfare Committee (CEHWC), constituted under Project Elephant, to submit a comprehensive status report on DNA profiling of all captive elephants and the uploading of data on the Gajah Suchana app.
The order also requires a mechanism for the periodic renewal of ownership certificates for captive elephants.
Data discrepancy in captive elephant count
The top court directed the Centre to issue mandatory guidelines for establishing elephant clinics offering specialised services for the welfare of captive elephants. The CEHWC has also been directed to prescribe minimum standards for the housing, healthcare and upkeep of elephants in captivity.
The matter will next be heard on October 29. The court has clarified that its present concern is not ownership of captive elephants, but their upkeep, well-being and healthcare - issues central to the petition before it.
Data discrepancy in captive elephant count
The static numbers have raised concerns of underreporting. Environmental activists say it is difficult to believe that, over seven years, no elephant died in captivity and none was added to these categories.
The category-wise figures add up to 2,984: private ownership (1,678), circuses (47), temples (96), forest department (768), zoos (63) and rehabilitation centres (332). A comparison with the 2019 figures indicates that the tally for private individuals, circuses and temples has remained unchanged.
The top court directed the Centre to issue mandatory guidelines for establishing elephant clinics offering specialised services for the welfare of captive elephants. The CEHWC has also been directed to prescribe minimum standards for the housing, healthcare and upkeep of elephants in captivity.
The matter will next be heard on October 29. The court has clarified that its present concern is not ownership of captive elephants, but their upkeep, well-being and healthcare - issues central to the petition before it.
