In October, 18 to 20 captive elephants, many of them from temples, were illegally transported from the state of Kerala, to the state of Karnataka, for use in the brutal logging industry. This, despite a 1994 Supreme Court Ruling, prohibiting the use of elephants for logging operations in India. The Forest Department also adopted the 2008 Central Guidelines, from the Center on Management and Care for Captive Elephants. All of these have been ignored. Many of the elephants do not have the proper permits, like transport permit, health certificate, or certificate from the Chief Wildlife Warden. In fact, there was no permission from offices of the Chief Wildlife Wardens of both states, a clear violation of the provisions of the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972. It is shocking that there is absolutely no monitoring by the Forest Department.
Hauling logs in the jungle is physically hard work, especially since the sought-after hardwood species tend to be very heavy. Logging sometimes involves accidents to elephants, resulting in injuries such as broken bones. This is especially problematic in criminal operations, as illegal loggers are very unlikely to seek veterinary help.
The 1994 Supreme Court ruling must be upheld, and the elephants must immediately be removed from working in this illegal trade. Furthermore, the Forest Department must adhere to the guidelines given for the care and mangement of captive elephants, along with complying with the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972.
