Captive Elephant (Transfer or Transport) Rules, 2024

The Union Ministry of Environment has announced the Captive Elephant (Transfer or Transport) Rules, 2024, detailing regulations for the movement of captive elephants within and between states. These rules empower chief wildlife wardens to authorize or deny such transfers, with exceptions for pre-existing ownership certificates, except for calves born from captive elephants. Additionally, transfers may be permitted if owners are unable to maintain the elephant. However, transfers are conditional upon the elephants’ genetic profiles being recorded in the union ministry of environment’s electronic monitoring application.