Conservationist Demands Supreme Court Panel Stop Assam Elephant Transfers

Guwahati: Assam conservationist Rohit Choudhury has petitioned the Supreme Court-appointed High Powered Committee to halt the transfer of four captive elephants to Tamil Nadu. Choudhury sent a formal letter on September 11, 2026, targeting the movement of Hiralal, Shiva, Rupsing, and Bijuli. One elephant, a five-year-old female named Durga, has already reached the Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple.

Hiralal and Shiva are slated for the Arulmigu Arunachaleshwarar Temple in Tiruvannamalai. Rupsing, a 13-year-old male, faces relocation to the Sri Vaidyanatha Swamy Temple in Nagapattinam. Bijuli, a five-year-old female, is headed to the Shri Kanchi Kamakoti Gajashala in Kanchipuram. Choudhury demanded the committee verify if these moves are permanent or temporary.

Choudhury cited a May 12, 2023 Supreme Court order requiring the committee to monitor health, age, and facility standards. He suggested current owners should surrender animals to the state under the Wildlife Protection Act instead of shipping them across the country. He wrote, "If the elephants are being transferred for any specific purpose, I request the Committee to make an assessment of the said purpose, determine its legality, and the conditions in which the elephants will be housed."

The conservationist also questioned the origins of the younger elephants. He noted that wild captures are illegal, meaning the animals must be captive-born or rescues. He raised alarms regarding long-distance transport strain and the lack of clarity on whether previous permits for other elephants have expired. He pointed to a Gauhati High Court case involving nine other elephants that remained in Tamil Nadu years after their permits lapsed.

The intervention coincides with a national push for DNA profiling of captive elephants. Government data suggests the captive population grew from 2,675 to 2,725 in 2026. Choudhury wants the committee to investigate all ownership documents and verify if the data is updated on the Gajah Suchana App before any more animals leave Assam.