An Elephant Never Forgets (But Apparently India Does)

Back in November 2009, the Central Zoo Authority, under the Ministry of Environment and Forests, made a promise to India's captive elephants to set them free, rehoming them to safari parks and sanctuaries where these normally free-roaming animals could graze openly. The move, which followed a long-running campaign by animal rights activists, would liberate 140 elephants from 26 zoos and 16 circuses.

Much press was given to this announcement, especially since, in recent years, India’s zoos had become a source of national shame. When PETA investigated 14 of the largest zoos around India in 2005, it reported “appalling neglect at every single facility.” The Times newspaper (India) reported that each zoo would decide where to send the elephants after consulting with wildlife experts in each state, and one of India's two African elephants, called Shankar, would be moved from the Delhi Zoo to the Jim Corbett National Park in the northern state of Uttarakhand.

Tragically, The Times UK reported this week that, seven months later, not a single elephant has been transferred.

What's worse is that there have been several fatal incidents involving Indian elephants in captivity during the months that have followed the hollow promise made by the CZA. One even spurred CCTV cameras to be installed in the elephants enclosures, when a local (and apparently alcoholic) resident from a neighbouring slum entered the Byculla Zoo compound in Mumbai, hoping to pilfer the iron padlock that secured the enclosure. Instead, he was picked up by Laxmi, the captive 58-year-old female elephant, and smashed against a wall. He died almost instantly of acute bleeding and a skull fracture.

"The condition of animals kept at the Byculla Zoo is pathetic," said Anuradha Sawhney, co-opted member of the Animal Welfare Board of India. "People are not trained and their enclosures are old. There has been no improvement in the last few years and the condition has only worsened."

“No new parks [for these elephants] have been created and no funds have been allocated,” said N.G. Jayasimha, another member of the Animal Welfare Board of India. “It’s easy to make an announcement, but little thought was given to implementation.” Mr Jayasimha believes the situation is now at crisis point. “India is overburdened with captive elephants,” he said.

But for Laxmi and others, it seems the prospect of retiring to their promised sanctuary is dim. “Many states may not be in a position to take captive elephants from zoos and put them in forest camps," stated Raman Sukumar, a professor of ecology at the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore. "There is the issue of increasing pressure on the forest habitat ... Almost certainly the plan will not go ahead as originally planned."

Saturday 19th June is The International Day of Action for Elephants in Zoos. Please take action and urge the Central Zoo Authority to remember its promise to the elephants.

Photo Credit: foxypar4