Elephants transported from Arunachal to Gujarat via Assam highways under cover of night…
Digital Desk: Reports of elephants being smuggled from Assam and Arunachal Pradesh to Gujarat have ignited widespread outrage. As per sources, more than 20 wild elephants have been moved to Mukesh Ambani’s personal zoo in Jamnagar, Gujarat under the supervision of the Government of India and the Assam state government. It has been a major concern because videos of the purported transfer have emerged, increasing the people’s outrage.
Cotton University Students’ Union (CUSU) and All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) have protested and called for an immediate action by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma , Forest Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary and the Assam Police. The groups have also called for enhanced laws making wildlife protection in Assam and the northeastern region of the country. Kuldip Goutam Sharma, who was representing the Cotton University AASU, protested the alleged transfer and demanded transparency from the Forest Department.
However, the Assam government denied these allegations. Himanta Biswa Sarma said that it was completely baseless and false and there was no recent movement of elephants from Assam. He cited previous action by the state Government to stop other such relocations on grounds of animal suffering, particularly in high temperatures.
In spite of, the denials, the controversy still persists, the involvement of Reliance Industries’ team, reports of animal ambulances transporting elephants, and the movement of Reliance personnel through Guwahati have heightened suspicions. Several social media platforms continue to witness an outpouring of protests, demanding the government’s priorities in safeguarding wildlife.
The protest raises the alarm bells on the need to increase accountability and stricter enforcement of wildlife conservation laws especially for endangered species in fragile habitats such as the Assam region.
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