Photo Courtesy: nenow
Guwahati: The Office of the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Chief Wildlife Warden of Assam has launched an investigation into the illegal transport of an elephant named Mohan from Lakhimpur to Jaipur. Authorities discovered that the transfer was carried out using falsified documents and a forged signature of the Assam Chief Wildlife Warden.
The issue surfaced after the Rajasthan Chief Wildlife Warden notified the Assam Forest Department. Rajasthan officials have since seized the elephant, arrested the individuals responsible for its transport, and initiated legal proceedings before the Chief Judicial Magistrate in Jaipur. The matter is also currently under review by the Rajasthan High Court.
Parallel investigations are underway in Assam. A case has been registered at the court of the Chief Judicial Magistrate in Lakhimpur, and an FIR has been filed at the Dispur Police Station in Guwahati regarding the forgery. The department stated that "strict legal action would continue against those involved in illegal wildlife transportation and document forgery, and investigations are ongoing."
This development follows inquiries from wildlife conservationist Mubina Akhtar. In a June 2026 letter, the Kaziranga Wildlife Society member raised concerns about the transfer of captive elephants between states. She specifically questioned the legality of Mohan's movement and the potential transfer of another elephant, Ram Prasad, from Golaghat. Officials noted that there is no verified evidence of illegal transport regarding the elephant in Golaghat at this time.
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