Jumbo identity theft: Traffickers cash in on certificates of dead elephants

Animal activists in the state have pointed out that there is a booming underground market for ownership certificates of dead elephants. These certificates are being sought by unscrupulous agents who traffic elephants illegally across state borders. The modus operandi involves purchasing the ownership certificate of a dead elephant from the owner of the animal, and using this certificate to transport a live animal that has been captured illegally or procured without proper documentation. Radha Rajan, a long-time animal activist, and a volunteer with AWBI (Animal Welfare Board of India), as part of the State-appointed committee to inspect temple elephants has been a personal witness to instances of such trafficking. 

She tells us, “As per law, a captive elephant’s ownership certificate is issued by the State’s Chief Wildlife Warden. And in the event of the elephant’s demise, the certificate has to be surrendered by the animal’s owner to the government.” She goes on to tell us, “I have personally witnessed an incident where a captive elephant that had to be relocated to a reserve, was brought in with an ownership certificate that originally belonged to another elephant. When the forest officials used an electronic scanner to read the microchip tag embedded in the elephant’s ear, they realised that there was a mismatch between the information available on the microchip and the details of the elephant as provided in the certificate.” 

As elephants are protected by law, the trading of these animals is banned. However, their ‘illegal’ ownership certificates can fetch several thousands of rupees and are usually sought by low-rung mahouts and owners who employ these animals for begging, on the pretext of being temple elephants. In fact, last month, a Government Order was passed to the effect that by this October, district and state level committees are to be constituted in Tamil Nadu to inspect the health and living conditions of all temple elephants. 

Radha points out that the government has also been instructed to provide the offices of all District Forest Officers (DFOs) with microchip scanners to help them keep track of captive elepants in a better manner. State officials are of the opinon that owing to the strict enforcement of anti-poaching and anti-trafficking laws, the instances of such crimes have significantly reduced in Tamil Nadu. 

When contacted D Venkatesh, District Forest Officer, Dindigul says, “Our focus is on curbing the poaching and trafficking of wild animals. In the last two months alone, we have had some major hauls.  Two separate groups of peddlers were arrested for trading of wild animal products such as tiger and leopard skins and ivory tusks.” He adds, “As far the captive and privately owned-elephants are concerned, all of them have been tagged with microchips in their ears and the records of their ownership are maintained in the Chief Wildlife Warden’s central database.” 

Venkatesh also remarks that he has not come across any instances of duplication of the ownership certificates of elephants. The Chief Wildlife Warden declined to comment on this story owing to the ongoing Assembly Sessions. Those involved in identity theft of elephants are primarily small time.mahouts and elephant owners who are unable to afford the cost of procuring an elephant through the legal manner, which involves going through the DFO, said the activist.