Can Kerala donate an elephant to Karnataka? Elephant transfer rules explained
Karnataka has requested a female elephant from Kerala for temple rituals, prompting a review of the Captive Elephant (Transfer or Transport) Rules, 2024. The rules mandate strict oversight by the Chief Wildlife Warden for any interstate transfer of captive elephants.
Why it matters
It highlights the regulatory framework governing the movement of protected wildlife between Indian states for cultural purposes.
The story so far: Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Sivakumar has written to Kerala Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan seeking his support to facilitate the donation of a female elephant for the Kollur Mookambika Temple in Udupi, Karnataka, to be used in traditional religious ceremonies and temple rituals. The Kerala Government had earlier turned down a request from the Telangana Chief Minister, who sought a camp elephant from Kerala.
The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change had brought out the Captive Elephant (Transfer or Transport) Rules, 2024 , by invoking Section 63 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, which grants the Central Government the statutory authority to make rules for carrying out the provisions of the Act. The Rules cover the transfer and transportation of the elephants, both within the State in which the animals are kept or to other States.
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