Bombay High Court Approves Capture of Rogue 10-Year-Old Elephant

In a recent ruling, the Bombay High Court's Kolhapur bench has allowed the capture of a 10-year-old wild elephant named Omkar. The court has directed that the animal be taken to the Vantara facility in Gujarat, where its welfare and training will be overseen until a high-powered committee submits its recommendations.

The subadult male elephant was earlier spotted roaming in North Goa and later in Maharashtra after being separated from its herd in Sindhudurg district. The elephant had been causing damage to paddy fields and foraging for food in residential areas, leading to a conflict with the local human population.

The court acknowledged the crucial ecological role elephants play as keystone species and the need to protect the endangered elephant population in India. However, it also recognized the challenges posed by human-elephant conflicts arising from the overlap between expanding human settlements and elephant habitats. The bench emphasized the importance of finding a balanced solution to ensure the safety of both the animal and the public.

The state government had argued that the elephant's aggressive behavior, including the killing of a man in Sindhudurg, necessitated its relocation to the Vantara facility for training and rehabilitation. The court has now directed the state to submit a proposal for the elephant's temporary translocation and long-term relocation plan to the high-powered committee, which will examine the issue and recommend the best course of action within two weeks.