An Indian court has refused to stop the transfer of five young elephants from the northeastern state of Assam to Tamil Nadu, despite concerns from wildlife activists about the potential for mistreatment during and after the move. The Gauhati High Court ruled that it would not intervene unless there was clear evidence that the legal permissions required for the transfers had not been obtained. The elephants, including a five-year-old female named Durga, have already completed a nearly 3,000-kilometer road journey to the Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple in Tamil Nadu. Other elephants—Hiralal, Shiva, Rupsing, and Bijuli—are also set to be relocated. Wildlife activists have raised concerns about the long-distance transportation of the elephants and their living conditions and long-term care at temples in Tamil Nadu. They have also questioned whether the elephants were genuinely privately owned, rather than being protected wildlife. Activists have called for an investigation into claims that Durga was removed from Masan National Park under the cover of darkness, potentially violating legal protections for wild animals. The case has drawn attention to similar past situations, including that of Joymala, an elephant sent from Assam to a Tamil Nadu temple in 2011. Her case sparked a dispute between the two states, as Assam sought her return after her legal stay expired in 2013. Animal welfare groups later raised concerns about her treatment after a video surfaced in 2022. This history has led activists to question the broader practice of transferring captive elephants across state lines. Arun Prasanna G, founder of People for Cattle in India, criticized the practice of sending elephants from Assam to other states. He argued that if owners cannot care for the elephants, the solution should not be relocation but rather exploring options like surrender, rehabilitation, and long-term care within the state. He also questioned whether forest departments in both states were conducting enough due diligence before approving such transfers. The court, comprising Chief Justice Ashutosh Kumar and Justice Arun Dev Choudhury, was informed by representatives of the Assam government that the five "privately owned" elephants had received all necessary clearances and that "all possible care" would be taken during the journey. The court found no grounds to issue a restraint order unless there was clear proof that the required permissions had not been obtained. While declining to stop the transfers, the court kept the application pending, citing the need to protect the elephants' health and prevent their "unscrupulous or unauthorized use."