Kerala Wants More Elephants for Festivals, But Bringing Them In Isn't Simple, Says Forest Minister

The Kerala government is under sustained pressure from the public and from temple committees to allow captive elephants to be brought into the State from elsewhere in the country, Forest Minister Shibu Baby John told the Assembly on Tuesday. However, he said, there are practical difficulties in permitting such transfers.

The Minister was replying to a submission moved by Congress MLA Rajan J. Pallan, who urged the government to take steps to bring captive elephants from other States to Kerala, which faces a shortage of the animals, particularly for temple festivals.

“While I agree with the issue raised by him, there are practical difficulties associated with bringing elephants to the State from outside,” Mr. John said. He added that such transfers involved “several complicated procedures, which were not always easy to comply with.”

Elephants are listed in Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, the highest category of protection for wild animals. The keeping, transport and transfer of ownership of captive elephants requires clearances from wildlife authorities, including the Chief Wildlife Warden. Requirements and paperwork differ between States, and officials note that permission must be obtained from both the State that sends the animal and the State that receives it.

The Minister said the government wished to protect the State’s cultural heritage but was not in favour of allowing people to bring elephants from outside at their own discretion. “We are trying to protect the cultural heritage of the State, but within the confines of the law,” he said.

He told the House that Kerala currently has 324 captive elephants owned by private individuals, and that the government was examining possible measures to increase their numbers. He did not specify a timeline for any decision.

Mr. John also noted that elephants brought to other States, such as Tamil Nadu, in recent times had been brought on a temporary basis. Temporary transfers are subject to different conditions than permanent ownership changes, and the animals are expected to return to their home State after the stated purpose is over.

Mr. Pallan, in his submission, asked the State government to hold discussions with the Centre to seek the legislative changes needed to simplify the process of bringing captive elephants from other States to Kerala.

The demand comes amid a continuing debate over the balance between festival tradition and animal welfare. Courts and animal welfare organisations have repeatedly flagged concerns about the conditions in which captive elephants are kept, transported and paraded, including during temple festivals. Authorities have from time to time tightened conditions on working hours, rest periods, and the number of elephants that may be used at a single event.

Owners and festival committees say the shortage makes it harder to conduct ceremonies in the traditional manner. The government, for its part, has said it will look at ways to increase the number of captive elephants in the State, while insisting that any such step must stay within the legal framework.

The Minister’s reply indicates that the matter remains under examination, with no immediate change to the rules governing the movement of captive elephants across State borders.