Photo Courtesy: nenow
Guwahati: Wildlife conservationist Devajit Moran is pushing the Assam Forest Department to investigate the ownership and potential sale of a five-year-old elephant in Bokakhat. Moran flagged the situation Sunday via social media, questioning if the animal has the proper legal paperwork. He wants the government to confirm the elephant is safe and verify all permits.
Moran identified an Uttar Pradesh man named Ashraf Ali as the owner. He also shared a video featuring a man named Bijay Yadav. Yadav claims to be the mahout and says he is from Uttar Pradesh. The footage confirms the elephant is named Gayatri and is currently held in Bokakhat. Moran told Northeast Now: "I humbly urge the Assam government to take immediate steps to stop all illegal trade in elephants taking place in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh."
The activist tagged Assam Forest Minister Jayant Malla Barua, the Chief Minister’s Office, and Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma in his plea. He wants the Forest Department to seize the animal if they find any rules broken. Authorities have not yet confirmed if a sale is actually happening or if the elephant was moved illegally. There was no immediate comment from the Forest Department or Ashraf Ali. Investigators must now check all ownership records, permits, and transit documents to settle the matter.
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