On Friday, the Madras HC said that elephants will no longer be kept in captivity, except when they require medical attention or are unable to survive in the wild.
The interim order was issued by a bench consisting of Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice PD Audikesavalu in response to petitions about the welfare of captive elephants.
Furthermore, the court advises that the uniform policy should prevent “future ownership” of elephants by any individual. The
The court was informed on Friday that the total number of elephants inside the temples was 32 in the state and 31 privately owned, with the Forest Department having control of 64 elephants.
The court was informed by the mediator in the matter, Elsa Foundation, that in 2019, the state had a record of 86 elephants to the Ministry of Environment and Forests, excluding those under the custody of the Forest Department, and that 23 elephants were missing.
The case was suspended until October 21 after the court ordered the state to produce any statements involving elephants that it had given to the MOEF in the previous five years.
