Guwahati: A coalition of 53 animal welfare, wildlife and conservation organisations has urged the Tamil Nadu government to examine the acquisition and transfer of five young elephants from Assam to temples and religious institutions in the state.
The organisations have questioned whether the elephants — Durga, Rupsing, Shiva, Hiralal and Bijuli — were gifted, donated, purchased or otherwise transferred, and have sought verification of their ownership records, recorded ages and Ownership Certificates.
In a joint representation submitted to the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and other concerned authorities, the groups called for an independent examination of the circumstances surrounding each elephant’s transfer from Assam.
Questions over ownership trail
The organisations said different descriptions have emerged regarding the transactions involving the five elephants, with references to gifts, donations and purchases.
Also read: Five Assam elephants reach Tamil Nadu temples amid purchase, ownership questions
They have therefore sought details of the original owners, the manner in which ownership was acquired, whether any payment or other consideration was involved, and the documents establishing the ownership and transfer trail.
The representation also refers to a July 17, 2020 communication from the Tamil Nadu Principal Chief Conservator of Forests to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change concerning restrictions on gifting elephants.
The groups, however, clarified that they were not asking authorities to presume that the elephants had been illegally acquired or transferred. Instead, they sought an independent verification of the records and circumstances surrounding each transfer.
Concerns over age and Ownership Certificates
The coalition has also raised questions about discrepancies in the elephants’ age and ownership documentation.
According to the organisations, Ownership Certificates for three of the elephants were issued only in October-November 2025, despite their recorded dates of birth being several years earlier.
Questions have also been raised over the Ownership Certificate of Rupsing, which the organisations claim is around seven years old despite a five-year renewal requirement.
The groups have asked the govermnet to verify the elephants’ birth dates, ages and Ownership Certificates, along with acquisition documents, no-objection certificates, identification records and available microchip or DNA records.
Calls to halt further elephant transfers
The issue has gained urgency, the organisations said, amid information that six more young elephants could soon be transported from Assam to Tamil Nadu.
Also read: Assam conservationist urges SC panel to halt transfer of 5 elephants to Tamil Nadu
They have called for such transfers to be paused until the circumstances surrounding the five elephants already moved to Tamil Nadu are examined.
The coalition has also raised welfare concerns over the approximately 3,000-kilometre journey from Assam to Tamil Nadu, which it said was completed in less than nine days.
According to the organisations, photographs and videos submitted with their representation show the elephants being chained, handled by their ears, restrained using ropes passed through ear-holes, mounted and driven with sticks.
They have consequently sought an independent veterinary assessment of the five elephants, including verification of their age, height and physical condition.
Concerns over use in temple rituals
The organisations have also questioned the proposed use of the elephants in temple rituals and processions.
They have sought verification of whether the elephants meet the applicable age and height requirements, citing Rule 20 of the Tamil Nadu Captive Elephants (Management and Maintenance) Rules, 2011.
The groups claim the elephants appear to be below the relevant six-foot height threshold for work and have asked authorities to examine their suitability for such activities.
“Before another young elephant is moved thousands of kilometres from Assam to a Tamil Nadu temple, the Government should establish exactly how these five came here — whether they were gifted or purchased, who owned them, and whether their ownership and age records stand up to scrutiny,” said Arun Prasanna G. of People for Cattle in India (PFCI).
“The priority now should be to establish the facts surrounding these five before any more young elephants are transferred,” he added.
The organisations have called on the Tamil Nadu government to clarify the complete acquisition and ownership history of the five elephants and verify their recorded birth dates, ages and Ownership Certificates. They have also sought scrutiny of acquisition, ownership, identification and transport records, along with an independent veterinary assessment of the elephants.
The groups further urged authorities to examine the proposed use of the elephants in temple rituals and processions and take appropriate action based on the findings. They have also called for an immediate pause on further transfers of young elephants from Assam to Tamil Nadu until the circumstances surrounding the five existing transfers are examined.
The representation has been signed by 53 organisations from Tamil Nadu and other parts of India, including groups from Assam, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Puducherry, Goa and Haryana.