| Summary Despite a long and glorious tradition of domesticated elephants, there have been no systematic and conscious efforts in India to sustain this tradition. Domesticated elephants have been ignored both by the wildlife experts and the livestock experts. Most of the legal restrictions on private ownership of elephants were not intended, but are consequential to the inclusion of the Asiatic elephant in Schedule-I of the WPA-1972. Provisions of the WPA-1972, PCA-1960 and various rules made under the said Acts were never framed with the elephant in mind and, as such, they suffer from various inadequacies and flaws. Some restrictions like the requirement of ownership certificates for elephants could be utilized to improve the condition of domesticated elephants if the Forest Departments could enforce these provisions effectively. There is also an apprehension that much of the traditional knowledge and skill available in India will be lost unless the demand for and the utilization of domesticated elephants are kept alive. It is important to understand that the management of domesticated elephants is complementary to that of wild elephants. It will be ironical if the option of capturing and utilising surplus or problematic wild elephants is given up simply because of some illogical provisions of the law. It makes better sense to take steps to stop the abuse of domesticated elephants rather than ban domestication. An elephant owner should be presumed a potential conservationist unless proved otherwise. It is desirable that the energy, experience and goodwill of thousands of elephant keepers in India is channelled into efforts designed to promote the conservation and welfare of elephants. It is possible to utilize modern techniques and scientific knowledge to prevent unnecessary cruelty associated with the capture, training and handling of elephants. Demand for domesticated elephants will have to be created and sustained by careful planning. It is also possible to give suitable training to elephants to prepare them for new jobs and new avenues of employment. At the same time, there is an acute need for a large work force of trained mahouts and veterinarians to take proper care of the large fleet of captive elephants that currently exists. |
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