Elephant joyrides conducted in popular tourist destinations of Amer Fort in Jaipur and Goa have come under scanner in Supreme Court after complaints by an NGO that elephants are being subjected to extreme cruelty.
The Court sought responses from both Rajasthan and Goa governments to verify the charges leveled by NGO Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre. If proved true, the persons conducting such rides can be prosecuted for causing cruelty to elephants and the tourist activity can even be stopped if it is found that the owners of the show are not registered with Animal Welfare Board of India.
The bench of Justices Dipak Misra and PC Pant also sought response from Union Ministry of Environment and Forests on the necessary guidelines to be kept while employing elephants for joyrides. The petition alleged injuries caused to the captive pachyderms due to metal ankush, chains and metal spiked hobbles and clamps pierced on their bodies. This not only caused physical pain, infection but caused depression as well, the petition stated.