File photo of elephants at Punnathur Anakotta in Guruvayur.
The Kerala High Court has directed the Guruvayur Devaswom Managing Committee (GDMC) to implement urgent measures to ensure the welfare of the captive elephants housed at Punnathur Anakkotta under the Guruvayur Devaswom Board.
The GDMC was directed to strictly adhere to the Kerala Captive Elephants (Management and Maintenance) Rules, 2012, in all aspects of management and provide a progress report by September 2. They should ensure the elephants are maintained in a clean, hygienic and healthy environment. The tethering areas should consist of level earthen flooring, should not be continuously damp, and the tethering locations must be periodically changed.
The committee was instructed to implement the model feeding schedule issued by the Chief Wildlife Warden and ensure that the RO water purification system installed at Punnathur Kotta is maintained in proper working condition to provide all elephants with an uninterrupted supply of safe and adequate drinking water.
Maintain hygiene
GDMC must discontinue the existing practice of bathing elephants adjacent to their tethering places using water hoses to avoid persistent dampness of the tethering areas and ensure that every elephant is provided with an opportunity to bathe in running water at least once every week. Directions were also issued to improve waste management at the Anakkotta to maintain hygienic conditions at the camp.
Environmental enrichment measures must be adopted to improve the physical and psychological conditions of the elephants, and the chains used to tether the elephants must have suitable cushioning material to avoid hurting the animals.
The court further directed GDMC to upgrade the veterinary facilities and appoint additional doctors as needed. CCTV cameras must be installed covering all areas within the Anakotta to ensure transparency in elephant management, prevent cruelty and facilitate compliance with the court’s orders. Detailed data books must be maintained covering all aspects of the camp management. The GDMC was also asked to acquire additional land to provide adequate space for the elephants.
Camp inspection
The Chief Wildlife Warden was instructed to inspect the camp and file a report detailing the measures taken by the GDMC to implement the court’s directions and the recommendations by expert and statutory authorities.
The Division Bench of Justice V. Raja Vijayaraghavan and Justice K.V. Jayakumar issued the directives while considering a petition filed by Indo-Canadian wildlife filmmaker and biologist Sangita Iyer, alleging ‘gross inadequacy’ in facilities provided for the captive elephants.
The petitioner stated that the entire facility was 11 acres, housing 35 elephants, averaging around 35 cents per elephant. She informed the court that as per the governing rules and guidelines, each elephant should have at least 1.2 acres. Ms. Iyer further alleged that the elephants did not get enough exercise, and that the board was not meeting their dietary conditions.
The court observed that the Animal Welfare Board of India had sent a two-member team to evaluate the conditions of the captive elephants in 2014 and had made several recommendations to improve their welfare and management. After the petition was initiated, the court had appointed an Advocate Commissioner to report on the welfare of the elephants in 2023, and a special team was constituted in 2024 for similar purposes.
The special team had inspected the housing conditions, the tethering practices, veterinary care, drinking water and bathing facilities, the dietary conditions followed by the board, and the overall management of the Anakkotta and made several recommendations for improvement. The court issued its directions after considering all recommendations.
Published – July 27, 2026 08:15 am IST
