Supreme Court of India agrees to look into elephant abuse allegations

Elephant riding in some parts of India – which can be a popular tourist attraction – is under scrutiny, after the Supreme Court agreed to look into the practice, which some allege can lead to mistreatment of the animals.

India is considered a ban on elephant riding in some areas of the country. Image by Thangaraj Kumaravel / CC BY 2.0

Justices of the court asked the solicitor general to investigate whether the animals are being subjected to cruelty, which would be a violation under the Wildlife Act, according to NDTV. The governments from the Rajasthan and Goa provinces have been asked to examine the issue within the month.

The issue came forward after a petition was filed by the Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre, which alleges elephants at an Indian tourist site, used to transport visitors, are not properly cared for and people live in poor conditions.

The issue will go to a further hearing in February 2016, reports Asian Age.

Read more: How to interact ethically with elephants in Thailand