Concerns were specifically expressed about the operations of Vantara, a Jamnagar animal rescue..........
Digital desk: Animal welfare organizations have expressed displeasure with the central government's recently announced Captive Elephant (Transfer or Transport) Rules 2024 and have called on the Union Ministry of Environment to provide an official list of elephants that are permitted to be transferred as long as they have valid permissions.
These organizations include the Centre for Research on Animal Rights (CRAR) and People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India, which highlighted the importance of transparency in the transfer procedure in the wake of reports of suspected illegal elephant transportation from Northeastern states like Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.
Concerns were specifically expressed about the operations of Vantara, a Jamnagar animal rescue and care center supported by Reliance Industries and Reliance Foundation.
While Vantara officials have emphasized their focus on rescue and rehabilitation, campaigners have brought attention to alleged instances of illegal elephant trafficking and the smuggling of endangered exotic animals to individual collectors around the nation.
In response, the Union Ministry of Environment has sent out multiple notifications under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) to control the trade in exotic species.
In keeping with CITES norms, the Wildlife Protection Amendment Act 2022 seeks to impose more stringent laws on the import, export, and breeding of exotic animals.
Animal welfare organizations have proposed changes to the Captive Elephant Rules, including the release of an extensive list of eligible elephants with legal ownership certificates, to reduce worries about the transfer of captive elephants.
To avoid the regularization of illegal possession, they support limiting transfers to elephants whose ownership certificates were issued before the October 2003 deadline.
In addition, these groups have demanded that transfers of elephants from Northeastern states be prohibited for five years, except for rehabilitation, to stop the poaching of wild elephants.
To guarantee the welfare and protection of these animals, the Union Ministry of Environment is encouraged to alleviate concerns and provide clarification regarding elephant transfers.
In the meantime, there has been a noticeable increase in the number of instances in Assam and Mizoram of seizures of exotic animals that are illegally transported, such as kangaroos, koalas, and orangutans.
Concerns regarding the breaking of laws and regulations to allow the movement of these animals have been raised by wildlife activists, highlighting the necessity of strict enforcement measures to stop wildlife trafficking.
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