In a big win for Asian elephants, the government of Bangladesh has begun an initiative to free those held in captivity and rehabilitate them in their natural habitats, according to Mongabay.
For the first phase of this three-year project, a survey will be conducted to establish the population size of the country’s critically endangered elephants. Then, the plan is to select a suitable forest area for the elephants’ rehabilitation, seek expert advice and carry out research to guide the process, and buy the animals from their current owners.
One official said the elephants’ health and ability to adapt will determine “whether they can be rehabilitated in the wild,” but added that they will not return to captivity.
The most recent data, from a 2016 survey, identified an average of 268 wild local elephants, an estimated 93 nonresidents, and 96 in captivity. Among those in captivity, 14 were housed in zoos and safari parks while 82 were kept by private owners.
This vital initiative follows a 2024 High Court ruling that halted the issuance and renewal of licenses allowing elephants to be captured and kept in captivity. While the licenses were being granted to logging groups and circuses, authorities found the animals were being exploited for begging and “street extortion.”
Lady Freethinker is grateful to the Bangladeshi government for taking this compassionate step to protect elephants from a life of captivity and suffering — and hopes the project will inspire a future where these gentle giants can finally live freely and safely in the wild across the world.
