Elephant smuggling is illegal in Nepal. Yet tourist resorts and individuals buy and sell elephants in India and smuggle them across the border. Recently Jungle Villa Resort in Patihani, Chitwan, Rainbow Safari Resort and Jungle Safari Resort in Sauraha, Chitwan, smuggled elephants into Nepal, to be used for jungle safaris. Till now the Nepal government has turned a blind eye. Sign this petition today to demand an end to elephant smuggling!
Dear Minister,
Despite the fact that elephant smuggling is illegal and promotes the capturing of elephants from the wild, you have so far turned a blind eye to the ongoing buying, selling and smuggling of elephants by Nepalese tourism enterpreneurs in/from India.
Smuggling increases the chances of transferring communicable diseases across the border. As up to 25% of captive elephants in Nepal suffer from TB, ending smuggling should be a priority issue. Among the smuggled elephants include there are weak, handicapped and very old ones.
in the absence of any welfare regulation, the elephant safari industry fails to take good care of the elephants. As a result they are overworked, underfed and beaten.
We believe it is high time to regulate the elephant safaris, and to stop the smuggling of elephants to and from India.
We request you to take immediate action to endorse a total ban.
