The Madhya Pradesh High Court has directed authorities to submit a status report on the welfare of elephants at Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve.

This directive follows a previous court order mandating a decision on the rehabilitation of the elephants in accordance with the Wildlife Protection Act.

The order was given by the division Bench, comprising Chief Justice Suresh Kumar Kait and Justice Vivek Jain.

In an order issued on January 23, the Bench underscored the importance of addressing the welfare of elephants held in captivity at Bandhavgarh. The court instructed authorities to provide a status report in compliance with its earlier directive dated October 14, 2024. At that time, the court was informed that the Competent Authority, under Section 11(1)(a) of the Wildlife Protection Act, would soon decide on the rehabilitation of elephants housed at the reserve.

The Bench granted the respondents two weeks to obtain necessary instructions regarding the welfare and rehabilitation of elephants at both Bandhavgarh and Kanha Tiger Reserves. The court also reiterated the requirement for a status report in line with its October 14, 2024 order. Furthermore, it emphasized the need for an expert committee to assess the feasibility of releasing elephants currently in captivity at Kanha into the wild.

The next hearing is scheduled for two weeks later, allowing time for further developments and compliance with the court's directives.

Case Details

Case: WP No. 22959 of 2018