The Welfare-Commerciality Conflict of Indian Captive Elephants

• Captive elephants in India are often used for religious, entertainment, and tourism purposes.

• The Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 provides high protection for elephants, but they are often used for captivity.

• The Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC) published the Captive Elephant (Transfer or Transport) Rules in March 2024 to regulate misuse and curb illegal captures.

• The rules allow for the transfer of ownership of elephants, but no obligation for non-commercial exchange.

• The legislation could be misused by private elephant owners to “rent out” their animals, undermining elephant conservation.

• Concerns include microchip misuse and births in captivity.

• A mandate for humane, non-invasive birth control measures is required to break the cycle of commercial exploitation.

• A shift from live elephants to electronic elephants is crucial.

• The new rules have enabled trade in an endangered species.