Team Herald
PANJIM: The Bombay High Court at Goa, on Wednesday, directed the State Forest Authority (SFA) to conduct medical examination of 10 captive elephants in the state, with the help of Asian Elephant Research and Conservation Centre (ANCF) and expert within a matter of two months.
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The order was passed while disposing of the public interest litigation (PIL) filed by an NGO- People For Animals, pleading that the inspection of all the ten captive elephants be done, alleging commercial exploitation of the animals by the four Spice Farms- Jungle Book Resort, Sahakari Spice Farm, Tropical Spice Plantation and Sahyadri Spice Farm.
Ten elephants, including seven females, seized by the Forest Department, were deposited with the respective Spice Farms, in December 2018, after they were found to be used in violation of the provisions of the Wildlife Protection Act 1972.
The Division Bench comprising of Justices M S Sonak and M S Jawalkar noted that the elephants are not being used for commercial purpose and that the respondents have assured that same will also not be used in future.
“We direct the State Forest Authorities to inspect the ten captive elephants at the earliest and further, associate ANCF and its Senior Scientist Surendra Varma and his team in such inspection. This entire exercise had to be concluded as early as possible, and in any case, within two months from today,” the order stated.
The SFA is directed to take necessary steps based on the inspection report.
