Stop the Cruel Relocation of Wild Elephants from the Nilgiris – Protect Their Homes, Protect Their Lives!

Elephants in the Nilgiris Biosphere Reserve are facing a devastating threat: forced relocation from their native forests into fragmented habitats hundreds of kilometers away.

Under the guise of managing human-animal conflict, the Indian government has initiated a plan to move over 60 wild elephants out of their ancestral lands. This plan is not only cruel, but also ecologically unsound and potentially illegal under India’s Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.

Already, three elephants have died during preliminary capture operations. Others are being tranquilized, separated from their herds, and subjected to stress and violence. These are not just animals—they are intelligent, emotional beings with strong social bonds and memory. Relocation can cause trauma, disorientation, and even death.

Experts, conservationists, and local communities have strongly opposed the plan, pointing to sustainable, non-invasive alternatives like early-warning systems, forest corridors, and coexistence models that have already proven effective in India.

We urge the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change to:
Immediately halt the relocation project
Engage wildlife experts to assess ecological and welfare risks
Prioritize in-situ conservation and human-elephant coexistence models
Consult with local communities and tribal forest guardians
Make all Environmental Impact Assessments public

Every elephant matters. Every forest matters. Every voice counts—especially yours.

Sign this petition to tell the government: Protect our elephants. Don’t displace them.