For over eight years, an elephant named Sonu has been held captive in Chhattisgarh as part of the Forest Department’s strategy to manage the growing human-elephant conflict in the State. Sonu allegedly killed five people and injured one, besides causing damage to crops and homesteads in Achanakmar Tiger Reserve in 2015. The elephant was 12 then.

In captivity, Sonu has sustained severe injuries from iron chains and ropes tied around the legs. Despite legal interventions, the complaints of neglect and abuse persist. In August 2024, authorities were once again alerted to the mistreatment of the elephant.

Sonu is currently held at the Elephant Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre, Pingla. This centre, which has previously attracted attention for allegations of mistreatment of elephants, is meant to shelter young abandoned elephants ahead of their release into the wild, as well as provide care for older, sick, or captive elephants. It also serves as a refuge for elephants rescued from abuse, as well as those with injuries, disabilities, or in need of court-mandated protection.

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On September 5, Sudhir Kumar Agrawal, Chief Wildlife Warden, Chhattisgarh, set up an expert committee for a considered opinion on whether Sonu was fit to be released. The committee included experts from the Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun; the Elephant Study Centre, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Thrissur, Kerala; School of Wildlife Forensic and Health, Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh; Kanan Pendari Zoological Garden, Bilaspur and Achanakmar Tiger Reserve, Lorami, Chhattisgarh. Agrawal did not respond to phone calls or messages from Frontline.

In 2016, Nitin Singhvi, a Raipur-based wildlife enthusiast, filed a PIL petition for the release of an elephant chained at the Achanakmar Tiger Reserve, Bilaspur, by the Forest Department officials. Citing violation of the Section 11 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, the petition maintained that the elephant should not be indefinitely kept in captivity, resulting in its domestication, but be permitted to live in the wild.

In captivity, Sonu has sustained severe injuries from iron chains and ropes tied around the legs.
| Photo Credit:
SATYA PRAKASH PANDEY

Singhvi said: “When I first saw the elephant, he couldn’t even sit comfortably. The legs were severely wounded from constant attempts to break free from the iron chains tightly bound to a tree. The wounds were infested with worms, and pus was oozing from them. Starving and wracked with pain, the elephant had fallen into a state of hysteria.” He added: “After I filed my PIL, the Animal Welfare Board of India sent a team of experts to assess and treat the elephant. On two occasions, doctors recommended releasing the elephant into the forest to join a herd. Despite full recovery, the authorities did not set him free.”

Following intervention by the Animal Welfare Board of India and the State Wildlife Department, the High Court issued several directives for Sonu’s medical examination, treatment, and rehabilitation. In its order on August 18, 2017, the court acknowledged that there had been clear neglect, particularly with regard to treatment of Sonu’s injuries.

The order also stated that Dr Rajeev TS, Assistant Professor and Project Leader at the Elephant Study Centre, Kerala, had conducted an inspection of the elephant on July 12, 2017. Veterinary experts also recommended releasing Sonu into his natural habitat. After assessing the elephant’s physical and mental health, the senior veterinary trainer Dr Rakesh Chittora recommended following International Union for Conservation of Nature guidelines for the translocation process and seeking the expertise of the Wildlife Trust of India. Relocation is supported by the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972, which mandates the rehabilitation of captured wild animals to reduce their trauma.

Although the court suggested Sonu’s rehabilitation in the forest, it left the ultimate decision to the “wisdom” of the State Forest Department. A High Court bench led by Chief Justice Thottathil B. Radhakrishnan and Justice S.K. Gupta praised the petitioner for highlighting Sonu’s plight, especially the elephant could not seek legal relief on its own. In their ruling, the judges cited Article 48A of the Constitution, which mandates wildlife protection, and Article 51A(g), which urges citizens to show compassion for all living creatures.

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“It is my most cherished wish to see Sonu free from human control and live freely in the wild. He can be set free any time as an elephant never loses its natural instincts,” said Singhvi, adding: “There is no evidence on record that Sonu has killed any human being.”

Dismissing the Special Leave Petition, the top court in its order of February 2, 2018, noted: “Although we are not inclined to interfere with the impugned order passed by the High Court yet we grant him (petitioner) the liberty to move High Court, after passage of some time, if committee doesn’t act in accordance with directions issued by the High Court.”

In August 2024, People for Animals (PFA) appealed to Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai to release Sonu, stating that his prolonged captivity went against the country’s commitment to animal welfare. PFA also requested that the elephant be released on September 7, celebrated as Ganesh Chaturthi, the birthday of the elephant God.