This move will open flood gates in all the elephant bearing states.
Capturing will not lessen the HEC situation. Marauding elephants are usually the older and taller ones. Whereas the ones caught are the younger ones. Any elephant caught which is above seven feet in height will, 90% of the time die, while undergoing training. We are provoking an Indonesia type situation where all wild elephants at one point of time will be caught and kept in designated centers.

We cannot support capture of wild calves as a mitigating measure of HEC. It sounds quite illogical that after capture of four calves, the herd will change its annual migration route forever. On the contrary, It can be argued that this can make the herd even more aggressive towards humans.

Further, though the promise of the rescue centres sounds quite
encouraging, the proposal to keep 8 marauding wild tuskers in one
centre sounds ridiculous. One does not capture wild bulls to keep in rescue centres.
In Indonesia they are doing a similar thing; they are capturing wild elephants, irrespective of sexes, and keeping them in five Elephant Training Centers; which the elephant lovers worldwide term as "Concentration camps" . Do we have something similar in mind?
There has been, to our knowledge, no technical report or investigation to support the viability of this proposed activity.
We would like to request the basis on which these assumptions have been made by the W. Bengal government and accepted by the Central Government.

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LEST WE FORGET !

Please follow this link to view the shocking film clip by renowned filmmaker Mr. Mike Pandey:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8bG103hHkUU

The brutal capture, torture and subsequent death of a young tusker in a capture operation authorized by the government prompted Mike Pandey to stop filming his documentary on Elephants in Crisis and turn it into a news feature.

This news feature exposes the cruel and archaic methods of capture being used with no concern for the animal, a protected and endangered species.

The news feature is a protest and demand for immediate cessation of capture of elephants in this brutal way and a call for policy changes if elephants are to be protected.

Within 3 days of the release of this news feature the Government of India suspended all capture of wild elephants. Individuals in charge of the botched capture operation were suspended.

The news created international outrage International news agencies picked it and activists from all over the world joined in triggering a global signature campaign.

In India changes in policies and rules were made at a national level ensuring that all future captures take place with modern facilities and in the presence of experts to avoid trauma and cruelty after capture. Elephant welfare became top priority.
This news clip shows the cruel and archaic methods of capture that exist in India. Within 3 days of its release, the Indian government suspended all capture of wild elephants. Individuals in charge of the botched capture operation were suspended.

The news clip created international furor. International news agencies took it up and activists from all over the world joined in. IFAW undertook a global signature campaign against elephant capture.

Unfortunately in recent months deaths have been reported. Laws without proper implementation are of no use.

In India changes in policies and rules were made at a national level ensuring that all future captures take place with modern facilities and in the presence of experts to avoid trauma and cruelty after capture.