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NGO Linked to Alleged Cross-Border Elephant Trade
28 Sep
Summary
- NGO linked to alleged purchase of elephant from Nepal.
- Chas reveal 'Suraj Pal's elephant' and 'Kartick sir' involvement.
- Accused claims elephant smuggled via Nepal border in 2020.
An NGO faces allegations of involvement in a live elephant trade, surfacing four years after the purported transaction, as its officials are currently investigated for leopard poaching. Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) records indicate a connection to a case involving the alleged purchase of an elephant smuggled from Nepal.
In March 2022, the WCCB arrested individuals with ivory, leading to information about a female elephant bought from Nepal. Mobile phone chats recovered from an accused mentioned "Suraj Pal's elephant" and indicated that "Kartick sir" was informed. Suraj Pal had previously worked as an elephant keeper for the NGO.
One of the accused stated that a 35-40-year-old female elephant was smuggled from Nepal in 2020. The elephant reportedly changed hands multiple times, with the final purchase price for Suraj Pal being Rs 70 lakh. The accused individuals involved in the ivory seizure are currently out on bail.
The NGO has denied knowledge of the chat records and characterized the narrative as a "concocted" one. They also stated that Suraj Pal's association with them ended in 2016, disavowing any responsibility for his subsequent activities. Meanwhile, WCCB's handling of the leads has been questioned by former officials.
