No State can block traditional routes of elephants: Supreme Court
Impeding elephant corridors is not a solution to human-animal conflicts, says SC; it directs Centre to conduct a national survey to remove obstructions from routes and ensure a ban on the use of fireballs and spikes to drive away elephants
The Supreme Court ruled on Monday that no state can obstruct or block the traditional elephant corridors across India. Chief Justice Surya Kant emphasized that elephants traverse multiple states and cannot be forced to change their natural routes. The court emphasized that blocking elephant pathways does not address the root cause of human-animal conflicts.
Chief Justice Kant directed the government to conduct a nationwide survey to identify obstruction points and propose solutions, emphasizing that elephant habitats and corridors have been systematically destroyed. The court also asked about the allegations of using fireballs, mashaals, and spikes to chase elephants, stating that such methods are barbaric and illegal.
Additionally, the court ordered a review of the implementation of the ban on these measures by ‘hula’ parties. The Supreme Court noted that elephants are protected under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 as a vulnerable species.
Written by urgent.news from The Hindu - Sci-Tech's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
