The Mysuru zoo’s proposal to exchange two captive elephant calves for white rhinos from the Singapore zoo has drawn the ire of NGOs. They have red flagged the programme and filed objections against it on grounds of cruelty.
The Bengaluru-based Elsa Foundation, an animal and environment charity, has written to the Central Zoo Authority (CZA) and the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) to stop the process, citing cruelty to animals besides questioning its legality.
It is also coordinating with like-minded organisations in its bid to prevent the exchange process.
The objections filed by Prakash Sasha, co-founder of Elsa Foundation — a copy of which is available with The Hindu — said one should take into account sensitive facts about mega herbivores such as elephants which are supremely intelligent and community animals known to form life-long attachments, besides living in close knit groups.
The calves proposed for transfer were part of a herd in the Ramapura Elephant Camp near Moolehole in Bandipur and were shifted to the Mysuru zoo’s Koorgalli rescue centre more than a month ago.
“To isolate or tear them away from such family groups is extremely cruel and totally against the interest of the animals,” said Mr. Sasha. The calves belong to the Forest Department camps and are not owned by the zoo and hence the transfer itself was illegal, he argued.
A wildlife activist pointed out that the mortality rates of captive elephants was higher compared to the free ranging elephants found in natural habitat. Besides, shifting and getting them acclimatised in a new country adds to their stress levels and hence the exchange should be stopped, he added.
The Elsa Foundation drew attention to the CZA guidelines that preference would be given for transfer of animals in the normal habitat range of species concerned. It pointed out that Singapore did not constitute range country for elephants. “Besides, transfer of elephants to Singapore does not contribute in any way to the conservation of species,” it added.
When contacted, Ravi Shankar, Executive Director of Sri Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens, said he was aware of the objections filed by the NGOs and had forwarded them to Singapore Zoo as well asking them to address the issues raised by the groups.
“We have sought permission from the CZA for exchange of two elephant calves for white rhinos and it was still pending. It is an elaborate exercise that requires clearance from MoEF, CITES, Department of Animal Husbandry etc. and is carried out as per the provisions of the law,” he added.
But ELSA Foundation argued that if the CZA permitted this transfer process, it would be akin to Zimbabwe’s sale of elephant calves to China which has come under tremendous criticism worldwide.
When PMO intervened
It is not the first time that proposed exchange of elephants has triggered a controversy.
In 2004-05, it was proposed to gift an elephant calf from India to a zoo in Armenia. The authorities zeroed in on a baby elephant Veda at Bannerghatta in Bengaluru. This triggered a storm and the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh intervened decisively and stopped the transfer of the elephant.
Subsequently, a ban on gifting elephants to zoos was introduced and hence the ELSA Foundation has argued that the same principle must apply here as well and the elephants from Mysuru should not be shifted to Singapore.
