A man has been arrested in Rajasthan for allegedly illegally selling and smuggling an elephant named Mohan from Assam. The incident highlights the lax monitoring process of the current elephant migration policy and has made the wildlife highly susceptible to illegal trade and trafficking., It was proved once again. One person has been arrested for this illegal act in Rajasthan but surprisingly no one has been arrested in Assam so far.
This information was known after the arrest, Not just fake documents, Instead, Mohan was smuggled using the forged signature of Assam’s Chief Wildlife Warden. According to Dr Vinay Gupta, Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) and Chief Wildlife Warden of Assam, The elephant was seized after the Rajasthan Forest Department was tipped off about illegal smuggling in Jaipur with fake documents. A person has been arrested and a case has been registered in the Chief Judicial Magistrate Court, Jaipur and the case has been transferred to the Rajasthan High Court. The deceased have been identified as 19-year-old Arun Kumar (19) and 18-year-old Arun Kumar.
The elephant named Mohan was originally from Lakhimpur district but was kept in Golaghat district during poaching. The elephant is currently in the custody of the Rajasthan Forest Department and the departmental authorities are trying to bring it back to Assam soon after completing the legal process. meanwhile, Nature lovers have also expressed doubts over a proposal to sell or hand over Ram Prasad, another adult male elephant belonging to the Golaghat forest division, to a buyer in a state in southern India. Elephant Monitors Assam Managing Trustee Semant Ram Phukan urged the Forest Department and the state government to take the proposed relocation seriously and intervene immediately to stop the illegal sale and trafficking of elephants from Assam to other states. However, Dr. Gupta denied such claims and said he had no news on the matter, However, if any such information is received, action will be taken immediately‘b.
Kaziranga Wildlife S‘Saiti conservationist Mubeena Akhter expressed concern that such frequent reports of illegal poaching of elephants under the Wildlife (Protection) Act., 1972 and the Captive Elephants (Transfer or Transport) Rules, 2024, which raises serious questions as to whether the mandatory legal process has been fully complied with. Asian elephants are a Schedule A animal and enjoy the highest level of legal protection, he said, noting the relocation of such elephants outside Assam., transport, sales, Donations or movements are strictly tested under the Act, They should be documented and justified but were not seen in practice.
Physical examination in elephant migration, Genetic profile, Determination of Ownership, All veterinary certificates, Health certificate, Fitness Certificate for Transport, Akhtar noted that a thorough and rigorous process involves several aspects including quarantine records and reports on the elephant’s physical and mental condition.‘They ask questions. He said that he suspected the involvement of a deep circle in the incident and demanded a fair investigation into the incident. Transfer of captive elephants from Assam to other states unless all legal requirements of Wildlife Protection Act and Captive Elephant Rules are strictly followed and complete documentation is submitted., He claimed that no sale or movement would be allowed.