D S Kiran Kumar*:
Under the Animal Exchange Program, on 22 July 2025, four Asian elephants from Bannerghatta Zoo were sent to Himeji Central Park at Hyogo Prefecture in Japan. The four Asian Elephants – one male and three females – Suresh (born 2017), Shruti (born 2018), Gauri (born 2016), and Tulasi (born 2020) were flown along with eight support staff from Bannerghatta Zoo. Alas! One of them was found to be pregnant, thereby, flouting existing Indian rules and regulations.
When female elephant Shruti reached Japan, she was found to be pregnant which clearly means she was transferred to Japan during her pregnancy period. Elephant Shruti (seen in the above image) subsequently gave birth to a calf in Himeji Central Park on 24 August 2026. Since elephant pregnancies generally last around 18–24 months, this raises serious questions about whether her pregnancy was actually known and detectable before the transfer. If so, why proper veterinary and legal procedures not followed?
The Transport of Animals Rules, 1978, Rule 98 specifies restrictions concerning the transport of animals likely to give birth during transportation and recently delivered animals. The transfer of zoo animals also requires compliance with applicable wildlife authorities’ permissions and veterinary health assessments.
Therefore, the circumstances surrounding Shruti’s transfer, including her medical examination, pregnancy status, veterinary certificates, approvals and the signatures of responsible officials, should be independently and impartially investigated by authorities.
If any negligence, violation of wildlife laws, falsification of medical records or other irregularities are established, the responsible officials should face appropriate legal action under the applicable laws. The investigation should also examine and look into whether similar cases in the past involving transfer of other animals at Bannerghatta Zoo under Animal Exchange Program have been either been overlooked or inadequately documented.
The Himeji Central Park opened in March 1984 and is the only safari park in the Kansai region of Japan and has a history of procuring animals under the animal exchange programs with other countries. Further, this is the first time Bannerghatta Zoo has sent animals abroad. The international Animal Exchange Program was approved by the Bannerghatta Biological Park’s governing council last year and facilitated by the Central Zoo Authority.
*(THE AUTHOR IS FOUNDER, CEO, GREEN ARMY FORCE, WILDLIFE RESCUE & ENVIRONMENTAL ORGANIZATION, BENGALURU)
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