Dispur: The Centre for Research on Animal Rights (CRAR), India, has urged the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) to investigate the transfer of five elephants from Assam to Tamil Nadu in September, alleging discrepancies in ownership records and raising concerns about possible illegal capture and commercial procurement disguised as gifts.

In a letter dated October 12 to the CITES Secretariat in Geneva, CRAR founder and lawyer Alok Hisarwala Gupta sought an inquiry into the transfers of Durga, Rupsing, Shiva, Hiralal and Bijuli to religious institutions in Tamil Nadu. The letter also called for cooperation among India, Nepal and Myanmar to examine possible links between domestic demand for elephants and cross-border trafficking networks.

The letter cited reports by Northeast Now, which has been covering the elephant transfers, as part of its submission seeking a CITES inquiry. It also referred to representations made by elephant experts and activists to the Supreme Court’s High-Powered Committee.

CRAR has asked CITES to seek a response from the Indian authorities, examine proposed further acquisitions and recommend preventive measures to address concerns over illegal capture and trafficking.

Ownership records and origins under scrutiny

The letter flagged discrepancies in the documentation of two of the five elephants. Durga is recorded as having been born in February 2021, while her ownership certificate was issued in October 2025. CRAR said her mother’s identity, lawful custody and birth records require verification.

Rupsing’s microchip number, the letter said, has reportedly been linked to reports from June 2019 alleging wild capture. CRAR called for the identification to be checked against original forest records and microchip data.

The organisation also cited responses received under the Right to Information Act from the Wildlife Institute of India, the designated authority for DNA profiling, stating that it did not hold DNA profiles for the elephants.

CRAR said the absence of these profiles raised questions about whether the animals’ claimed captive origins had been verified. It argued that the issue, taken together with the other documentation concerns, warranted an independent inquiry. The absence of DNA profiles, however, does not by itself establish that any of the elephants was captured from the wild.

A joint representation dated October 1, signed by 150 organisations working in animal protection and wildlife conservation, including CRAR, alleged that purchases were being presented as gifts. It also raised concerns about recently issued ownership certificates, an overdue renewal for Rupsing and six additional elephant transfers.

CRAR said it had separately written to the Union environment minister on October 5, seeking a moratorium on elephant transfers from the Northeast and an independent investigation.

Questions over wider procurement networks

The letter cited findings recorded at a February 2026 meeting of the Captive Elephant Healthcare and Welfare Committee, which noted that 40.5 per cent of 2,075 analysed samples were of unknown origin.

CRAR acknowledged that the figure did not establish illegal capture but said it pointed to substantial gaps in establishing the provenance of captive elephants.

It also called for scrutiny of the findings and action taken by the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau’s Eastern Region. In August 2024, the bureau had sought information on alleged procurement networks and commercial elephant transfers from the Northeast to Kerala, according to the letter.

While the transfers from Assam to Tamil Nadu are domestic, CRAR warned that demand for elephants could have implications beyond India’s borders. Citing a CITES review of illegal trade in live Asian elephants, the letter referred to routes linking India, including its northeastern states, with Nepal and Myanmar.

It argued that renewed demand could create incentives for procurement networks to seek elephants from Myanmar and facilitate cross-border trafficking through routes involving both Myanmar and Nepal.

CRAR cites Nepal cases, seeks regional cooperation

The letter referred to two cases in Nepal to illustrate concerns about cross-border elephant movement.

In 2021, Ashakali was reportedly being transported towards India on the grounds that the elephant was being returned after a rental arrangement. Nepal’s wildlife authority, however, said no transport application had been filed.

In 2022, the reported sale of Kajalkali to an Indian buyer was intercepted by police on two occasions, the letter said.

CRAR has asked CITES to facilitate cooperation among India, Nepal and Myanmar to compare elephant identities, inventories, permits and relevant seizure records, and investigate possible links between intermediaries and trafficking routes.

It has also urged the Secretariat to place the findings and responses of the countries concerned before the CITES Standing Committee and recommend preventive action to guard against further illegal capture and cross-border trafficking.