Animal rights activists in India are raising concerns over the relocation of four young elephants from the northeastern states to temples in southern India. The elephants—named Rupsing (13), Shiva (6), Hiralal (8), and Bijuli (5)—are being moved as "gifts" to Hindu temples, a process that involves a long and arduous journey across thousands of kilometers. One of the elephants, Durga (5), has already been moved from Assam's Manas National Park to the Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple in Tamil Nadu. Durga arrived at the temple on Sunday after a six-day journey that began on 7 September. A video reportedly showed the young elephant swaying with her front legs chained, raising concerns about her welfare. Arun Prasanna G, founder of the Chennai-based non-profit People for Cattle in India (PFCI), has called for an investigation into Durga's transfer. He questioned the ownership of the animal, the legal basis for the move, and the involvement of various parties. Prasanna expressed concerns over the conditions of the journey, noting that Durga reportedly traveled nearly 500 kilometers per day. This raises legal issues, as the Kerala High Court had previously set a limit of 125 kilometers per day for elephant transportation. Tamil Nadu’s chief wildlife warden, Rakesh Kumar Dogra, stated that a "No Objection Certificate" (NOC) for Durga’s transfer was issued last week after an inspection by the District Captive Elephant Management Committee. However, the proposed transfer of the five elephants was challenged in court by the Chennai-based organization Seva Trust. The group was informed that Durga’s transfer had been approved, but the applications for the other four elephants were still pending. State authorities claim the privately held elephants are being donated to the temples, but PFCI and other animal welfare organizations have questioned these ownership claims. They argue that the elephants are being moved from national parks and reserves, rather than being given up by previous owners. Prasanna also criticized the speed at which the transfer paperwork was processed, suggesting that the necessary documents were completed within hours. He further alleged that the transfers might be part of a larger network involved in the movement and possible trade of elephants, with both state governments possibly complicit. Conservationists and former officials have also raised objections. Rohit Choudhury, an Assam-based conservationist, has urged the Supreme Court-appointed committee to halt the transfer, citing concerns over its legality, purpose, and impact on the animals’ welfare. Shurthi Vinodraj, a former member of the Tamil Nadu Animal Welfare Board (TNAWB), called the move a clear violation of Supreme Court guidelines. P Chokkalingam, CEO of TNAWB, stated that they had not given any approval for the elephants’ arrival and would investigate the matter, reporting their findings to the government.