Earth Science News
FLORA AND FAUNA
Experts condemn India park after elephants airlifted to Japan
Experts condemn India park after elephants airlifted to Japan
by AFP Staff Writers
Bengaluru, India (AFP) July 29, 2025

Conservationists and animal experts have raised the alarm after a wildlife park in southern India airlifted four endangered Asian elephants to Japan, saying the long-haul journey and relocation could impact the animals' health.

The elephants -- three female and one male -- were put into specially designed crates and loaded onto a cargo plane last week bound for Osaka, a nearly 12-hour journey.

They were transported from the Bannerughatta Biological Park (BBP) in Bengaluru to Himeji Central Park, where they will spend the rest of their lives.

The Bengaluru park would receive four cheetahs, four jaguars, four pumas, three chimpanzees and eight black-capped capuchins in exchange, the New Indian Express daily said.

Wildlife biologist and conservationist Ravi Chellam condemned the move, saying wildlife parks should only keep animals that are native to the region.

"Elephants are not native to Japan nor are jaguars and cheetahs, which will reportedly be brought to Bengaluru, native to Karnataka," Chellam told AFP.

"So, it is important to find out what the purpose of this international animal exchange is."

There are fewer than 50,000 Asian elephants in the wild, according to the World Wildlife Fund, the majority in India.

In 2022, eight cheetahs were transported 8,000 kilometres (5,000 miles) from Namibia to India, followed by another 12 from South Africa, as part of a project backed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The project was aimed at reintroducing the big cat species to India's grasslands seven decades after they were hunted into oblivion.

- 'Frightening and stressful' -

However, several cheetahs died soon after, raising questions about the high-profile project.

Chellam said animals are not meant merely to be "shown off" at wildlife parks.

"Modern zoos should have very clear objectives and these are education, conservation, research and recreation," he said.

"Zoos should plan their animal collections in a manner that will enable them to meet these objectives."

The Bengaluru elephants were trained over six months for the extraordinary trip, local media reported.

"Every day, they were made to enter, stay, and relax inside crates for three to four hours, making them acclimatised to the conditions," the Times of India newspaper quoted top BBP official AV Surya Sen as saying.

But People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) said the elephants would have nevertheless found "flying in the cargo hold of planes frightening and stressful".

"Instead of funds used to fly animals to different countries just to be put on display, the focus can be redirected to helping protect jungles and keeping animals in their natural homes," Sachin Bangera of PETA India told AFP.

International animal exchange programmes involving Indian zoos are not common, but do happen occasionally, Bangera added.

Related Links
Darwin Today At TerraDaily.com

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
FLORA AND FAUNA
Australia's mammal megafauna face long-term decline from extinctions and invasive species
Sydney, Australia (SPX) Jul 24, 2025
Over the last 100,000 years, Australia's largest animals have undergone dramatic shifts due to waves of extinction and the arrival of invasive species, according to new research from Flinders University. The study reveals mammals have been disproportionately affected compared to birds and reptiles, reshaping ecosystems across Australia and New Guinea. The research team focused on large-bodied animals over 10 kilograms, assessing extinction and introduction trends before and after European coloniza ... read more

FLORA AND FAUNA
Philippine flooding centre stage at Marcos state of nation speech

'Once in a hundred years': villagers clean up after deadly China floods

Beijing officials admit 'gaps' in readiness after rain kill dozens

Fukushima radioactive debris removal delayed until 2037

FLORA AND FAUNA
'Food on table' outweighs health risks for Philippine e-waste dismantlers

Urgent need for 'global approach' on AI regulation: UN tech chief

'Marathon at F1 speed': China bids to lap US in AI leadership

Stablecoins inspire hope, and hype, in Hong Kong

FLORA AND FAUNA
Chinese sub discovers deepest-ever creatures 10 km undersea

Huge quake off Russia sparks Pacific tsunamis; Peru shutters half its ports

UAE begins pipeline project to ease Gaza water shortage

Life after cod: Latvia reinvents its coastal communities

FLORA AND FAUNA
Turkey's glaciers fall victim to climate change

Finland breaks 50-year-old heat record

The eye-opening science of close encounters with polar bears

Heat melts Alps snow and glaciers, leaving water shortage

FLORA AND FAUNA
French health experts speak out against bee-killing pesticide

Iconic French chef stakes reputation on vegan menu

New Zealand farmers battle pine forests to 'save our sheep'

French anger over bee-killing pesticide piles pressure on Macron

FLORA AND FAUNA
Volcano erupts after quake in Russia's far east

Millions return home as Pacific tsunami warnings lifted

Shanghai evacuates 283,000 people as typhoon hits

Key facts about tsunamis and the damage they cause

FLORA AND FAUNA
Sudan quartet meeting postponed after Egypt-UAE spat; Deadly clashes between Uganda, South Sudan forces

US plan to destroy contraceptives sparks uproar

Tunisia plastic collectors spread as economic, migration woes deepen

Somalia demands release of arms cargo ship seized by Puntland

FLORA AND FAUNA
One man's 30 years of toil to save Sierra Leone's orphaned chimps

Hong Kong activists face tough compromise over LGBTQ rights blueprint

China says childcare subsidies to 'add new impetus' to economy

Adopted in US, Greek Cold War kids find long-lost families

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.