Even as the transfer of five-and-a-half-year-old elephant Durga to the Meenakshi Amman Temple in Madurai continues to generate controversy, another young elephant from Assam has now come under the spotlight. A five-year-old female elephant, Bijuli, has been proposed for transfer to Shri Kamakoti Gajashala in Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu, raising fresh concerns among conservationists and animal welfare groups.
According to an official Forest Department document dated September 4, 2026, digitally signed by Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Chief Wildlife Warden Rakesh Kumar Dogra, five captive elephants from Assam have been proposed for transfer to different destinations in Tamil Nadu.
Bijuli, owned by Hiteswar Moran of Assam, is listed for transfer to the Kanchipuram-based gajashala. The document also includes Hiralal, an eight-year-old male, and Shiva, a six-year-old male, both proposed for the Arulmigu Arunachaleshwarar Temple in Tiruvannamalai, and Rupsing, a 13-year-old male, proposed for the Sri Vaidyanatha Swamy Temple in Nagapattinam district.
The Forest Department document clarifies that the transfers are still under consideration and have been referred to District Level Captive Elephant Welfare Committees for physical verification of facilities and compliance with the Captive Elephant (Transfer or Transport) Rules, 2024. Final approval is yet to be granted.
The issue gained prominence after Durga was transported from Assam to Madurai earlier this month. Animal welfare groups questioned whether proper welfare and transportation protocols were followed during the nearly 3,000-kilometre journey.
Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi also raised questions over Durga’s transfer, seeking clarity on the elephant’s origin, ownership and compliance with legal procedures. He called for greater transparency in the movement of elephants from Assam.
Animal rights organisations, including People for Cattle in India (PFCI), have expressed concerns about young elephants being separated from their mothers and transported over long distances. They have demanded closer scrutiny of ownership claims, transportation arrangements and welfare safeguards.
Forest authorities in Tamil Nadu maintain that all proposed transfers are being processed in accordance with legal provisions and that inspections of the receiving facilities are being carried out before approvals are granted.
With another young elephant, Gayatri, recently intercepted in Assam’s Golaghat district amid questions over ownership and transportation plans, conservationists are now demanding stricter verification and monitoring before any further elephant transfers are approved.
