Amid the speculation over Assam's elephant transportation debate, statistics by Wildlife Crime Prevention Unit shows that Assam has transported at least 320 elephants between 2003 and 2015.
As per reports, as many as 259 elephants were transported between 2003 and 2007, while, 61 elephants had been sent to outside Assam between 2008 and 2015 and none of them were returned back to Assam.
The Forest Division of Golaghat has the highest 80 numbersof captive elephants, Jorhat-79, Sivasagar-76, Nagaon South-73, Nagaon (T)- 10,Nagaon WL-3, Doomdooma-61, Cachar-38, Digboi-30, Lakhimpur-38, Eastern AssamWL-116 Eastern Assam WL-116, North Kamrup-45 Kamrup West-20, Kamrup East-25,Guwahati WL-11, Sonitpur-31, FDTP-Manas- 41, Managaldai WL-32, and TinsukiaWL-11., Western Assam WL-15, Assam State Zoo-3, Dhansiri-5, Dhemaji-11,Dibrugarh-6, Hailakandi-19, Karimganj-25 and the Forest Division of Dima Hasaohas only 1 captive elephant.
The total number of elephants registered till 2007 in theState was 956, the highest number of transfer during the Year 2006 was 67. TheDoomdooma Division for the period 2003-2007 transferred 108 elephants followedby Nagaon South-23, Digboi-17, Dibrugarh-3, Golaghat-10, Tinsukia WL-3,Sivasagar-20, EAWL-15, Dhemaji-10, Lakhimpur-31, Sonitpur-2 and Kamrup West-7.
The report of the Wing also revealed that 14 tusks, mostlybabies of 4-6 years old had been sent outside within 3-4 years from DoomdoomaForest Division to Bihar alone and 18 elephants were displayed for sale inSonpur Mela.
Without any revenue generation, males became more difficultto keep and maintain, they were primarily sold to Kerala State, through Bihar'sSonepur Mela.
In the state till 30.12.2018, there were 905 captiveelephants in the records of the Forest Department.
Assam has a traditional association with elephant keeping—elephant keeping methods that provided near-natural living conditions for itscaptive population, in a forest environment with opportunity to interact withwild counterparts
Elephants in private ownership are the victims of poor owners, agents, brokers and often can be misused or abused for commercial reasons. Owners hire them or lease them to distant places for logging, dragging heavy loads, filming commercial movies and other varied activities.
When needed they are sold to other states, for religious, entertainment or commercial activity through a network of highly organised and complex system, designed by the traders of this lucrative trade.
However, even in poverty, captive elephants kept in Assamlead a better quality of life compared to those maintained in other states inIndia or in other non-range countries. In captivity in non-range countries,even with intense management and resource expenditure, natural livingconditions have not been able to be created.
The social life of Assam's captive elephants replicatenear-natural conditions as compared to those maintained in isolation in statessuch as Kerala/Tamil Nadu or Bihar. Similarly, access to natural water sources(river/stream) in Assam cannot be found in a state like Rajasthan or Punjab.
