Doomdooma: A wildlife conservationist has urged the Assam Forest Department to urgently intervene over the alleged ownership and proposed sale of a five-year-old elephant in Bokakhat, raising concerns about the animal’s documentation, ownership and welfare.
Wildlife conservationist Devajit Moran, in a social media post on Sunday, appealed to the Assam government and Forest Department to verify the circumstances surrounding the elephant and investigate whether any regulations had been violated.
“I humbly urge the Assam government to take immediate steps to stop all illegal trade in elephants taking place in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh,” Moran told Northeast Now.
Tagging Assam Forest Minister Jayant Malla Barua, the Chief Minister’s Office and Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Moran identified Ashraf Ali of Uttar Pradesh as the alleged owner. He called on authorities to take the elephant into Forest Department custody if an investigation establishes any violation.
The appeal was accompanied by a short video featuring Bijay Yadav, who identified himself as the elephant’s mahout and said he was from Uttar Pradesh. In the video, Yadav said the elephant, named Gayatri, is five years old and currently located in Bokakhat. He also identified Ashraf Ali as the animal’s owner.
Moran alleged that the elephant was being kept for sale and sought immediate intervention from the administration and Forest Department.
However, the allegations have not been independently verified. It is also unclear whether any sale has actually been proposed or undertaken, or whether the elephant’s ownership, transportation and other relevant documents comply with applicable wildlife regulations.
The incident has highlighted the need for authorities to verify the elephant’s ownership records, permits, movement documentation and welfare conditions before drawing any conclusions or taking further action.
No immediate response was available from the Assam Forest Department or the person identified as Ashraf Ali regarding the allegations.
The matter is expected to remain subject to verification by the competent authorities.