Elephant Suman Succumbs Amid Protracted Legal Dispute Over Illegal Transfer
In a tragic development highlighting systemic failures in animal welfare enforcement, Suman, a young female elephant formerly with Nataraj Circus, has died. Her death occurred amidst long-pending legal proceedings before the Calcutta High Court concerning the alleged illegal transfer of three elephants from West Bengal to Bihar.
Commercial Exploitation and Neglect Alleged
Radhika Bose of the CAPE Foundation, which has spearheaded the legal fight for the rescue and rehabilitation of these elephants, provided distressing details. Publicly available footage from recent days showed Suman being utilized in rented commercial activities in Siwan, Bihar, where she appeared visibly unwell and unfit for work. Subsequently, she collapsed and passed away, underscoring grave lapses in care.
Judicial Orders and Enforcement Delays
The CAPE Foundation's lawsuit contested the transfer of the elephants to a mahant in Bihar and challenged their ongoing possession and commercial exploitation. The Calcutta High Court issued multiple directives ordering authorities to seize the animals and return them to the custody of the Bengal forest department. These orders were grounded in the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, and other legal safeguards for captive elephants.
Despite these judicial mandates, the elephants reportedly remained in commercial circulation under individuals whose management was deemed severely inadequate. The foundation asserted that Suman's condition pointed to critical failures in basic veterinary care, husbandry, and on-ground decision-making.
Call for Urgent Action to Protect Survivors
In a statement, the foundation emphasized that captive elephants are long-lived, socially complex, and highly sentient beings requiring specialized veterinary oversight, stable environments, and protection from exploitative use. Suman's death exemplifies how delays in enforcing court orders can lead to irreversible harm, directly endangering the lives and welfare of the two surviving elephants, Bhola and Basanti, who remain in alleged illegal custody.
The statement urgently appealed to the authorities of Bengal and Bihar to coordinate in complying with the binding orders of the Calcutta High Court. It demanded that Bhola and Basanti be secured without further delay and transferred to an appropriate rehabilitation facility. There, independent veterinary assessments and long-term welfare planning could be conducted, with all commercial deployment halted immediately pending full legal compliance.
Broader Implications for Rule of Law and Animal Welfare
This matter extends beyond animal welfare, touching on the rule of law and the integrity of judicial oversight. The foundation stressed that Suman's death should serve as a solemn and urgent reminder: court orders related to animal welfare must be implemented faithfully, effectively, and in a time-bound manner, avoiding any delay or obstruction.
"We express our profound grief at Suman's passing and call upon all relevant authorities to ensure that the fate she suffered is not repeated for the remaining elephants," the statement concluded, highlighting the need for immediate action to prevent further tragedy.
