Guwahati, Sep 29 (IANS) Assam Congress President and Lok Sabha member Gaurav Gogoi on Monday sought detailed records from the state government regarding the transfer of five elephants from Assam to Tamil Nadu, raising questions over their ownership, provenance, approvals and welfare safeguards during transit.
In a post on X, Gogoi questioned the circumstances surrounding the movement of the elephants and alleged that the transfer was marked by “hypocrisy and secrecy”.
He said wildlife experts and animal welfare organisations had also raised concerns over the matter.
Gogoi sought clarification on whether the elephants were donated, purchased or acquired through any other arrangement. If any financial transaction was involved, he asked the government to disclose the amount paid and the identities of the parties involved.
The Congress leader also questioned who initiated the transfer process and the criteria used to select the five elephants.
Referring specifically to two elephants, ‘Durga’ and ‘Bijuli’, Gogoi said they were around five years old and sought details of their mothers and the documented chain of custody establishing their lawful provenance.
He also questioned the Assam government’s assertion before the court that all necessary clearances for the transfer had been secured.
Gogoi demanded that the relevant permissions and clearances be placed in the public domain and asked whether the transfers had been examined by the High-Powered Committee.
The Congress MP further raised questions over the reported inspection of a facility in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, on the same day that the transfer was recommended, asking whether adequate scrutiny of the destination facility had been conducted before the elephants were moved.
He also sought details of the veterinary checks and animal welfare measures followed before and during transportation, including whether all prescribed safeguards were complied with.
Referring to allegations of abuse involving an elephant named ‘Joymala’, Gogoi questioned whether the authorities had incorporated lessons from the controversy into their handling of elephant transfers.
“Elephants are woven into Assam’s culture and heritage. Their movement out of the state must not be shrouded in unanswered questions,” he said.
Gogoi called for the five elephants to be returned to Assam and demanded public disclosure of records concerning their ownership, age, provenance, permits, clearances, approvals and any payments linked to their transfer.
–IANS
tdr/dpb
