Plea in SC seeks ban on use of elephants at functions

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday sought the response of the central and nine state governments on a petition seeking a ban on the use of elephants in religious functions and other events saying it causes then immense pain. The apex court bench of Justice Dipak Misra and Justice Prafulla C. Pant was told that there were some 3,000 captive elephants and a ban would reduce the demand for captive elephants.
A May 2004 report says there some 500 elephants are with the forest departments, 82 with zoos, 92 with circuses and 2,650-2,700 with private individual and temples.
The court was moved by the Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre, Help in Suffering, Plant and Animals Welfare Society (PAWS), Save Animals Initiative (SAI) Sanctuary Trust, and Shakti Ranjan Banerjee – a former West Bengal Wildlife Advisory Board.
The petitioners have sought directions to the central government and the state governments to discharge their constitutional and statutory obligations under the Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972 and the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1960 .
All elephants  must be microchipped to track their movements and to prevent any illegal transfer, the petition said. It also sought a fresh census of captive elephants in the country with the assistance of independent experts. (IANS)