Guwahati: Wildlife conservation organisation Elephant Monitors Assam (EMA) has urged the Assam government to establish a dedicated sanctuary for retired, aged, injured and abandoned captive elephants.
The organisation has also sought Assam Forest Minister Jayanta Malla Baruah’s urgent intervention to ensure treatment for an injured wild elephant in Golaghat district.
In a letter dated June 19, the organisation proposed setting up what it described as Northeast India’s first dedicated sanctuary for retired, aged, mutilated, injured and discarded domestic elephants.
According to EMA, Assam has a significant population of captive elephants that are often illegally sold to other states after they become old or are no longer useful to their owners. The organisation said such a sanctuary would provide lifelong care for these animals while also helping curb the illegal trafficking of captive elephants.
The proposal recommends accommodating an initial population of 10 elephants on around 50 bighas of land, preferably adjacent to a forest area to allow natural grazing.
EMA estimated that the sanctuary would require two full-time veterinarians and around 15 caretakers. It projected a monthly operational expenditure of approximately Rs 3 lakh, including staff salaries, food and veterinary care.
“We hope that under your able leadership, the Forest Ministry and the Assam Government would give serious thought to our proposal. If permitted, this will be the first such endeavour in Northeast India and would stand as a testament to the state’s commitment towards wildlife conservation,” the organisation said in its representation.
In a separate letter submitted the same day, Elephant Monitors Assam also sought the minister’s immediate intervention for the treatment of a wild female elephant, locally known as Durga, in Golaghat district.
According to the organisation, Durga is frequently seen near the Bokial Forest Beat Office under the Golaghat Range. She was fitted with a radio collar in 2023 by the Asian Nature Conservation Foundation, in collaboration with the Assam Forest department.
EMA alleged that the radio collar, weighing approximately 19-20 kg, remains lodged around the elephant’s neck, causing discomfort and restricting her movement.
The organisation said it has been raising the issue since March 2026 by writing to the Divisional Forest Officer, the Chief Wildlife Warden and the local MLA, but claimed that no action has yet been taken. It also wrote to the Chief Minister earlier this month.
In its latest appeal, EMA requested the Forest Minister to ensure immediate medical intervention for Durga, noting that the Asian elephant is protected as a Schedule I species under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.