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Elephants are wild animals who live with their family, walk for hours, forage, and bathe in rivers in their forest homes. In captivity, these intelligent and sensitive animals are locked up, isolated, beaten, chained, and deprived of everything that’s natural and important to them. They are displayed and used as props at weddings, inauguration events, processions, and temple festivals. Most of the captive elephants in Kerala are kept illegally.
On 4 May 2016, the Supreme Court of India stayed a Kerala government notification dated 26 February 2016 that would have legalised the ownership of 134 captive elephants who are being held without valid ownership certificates – a move which would have made a mockery of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, and thus encouraged more people to capture and keep elephants illegally. The court also directed the state government not to issue any new ownership certificates and said that all existing certificates granted under the notification would be withdrawn and suspended. To prevent the illegal transport and trade of wild animals, the court also warned the Elephant Owners Association that people keeping elephants are not allowed to part with or transport them beyond state limits.
In spite of this directive, 134 elephants are still being held captive. Let’s help get them to sanctuaries where they can socialise with other elephants, live unchained, and without the fear of beatings or cruel training.