Kathmandu, Aug. 13 -- Sauraha, the country's major tourist destination in Chitwan, has long been synonymous with elephant safaris. For decades, foreign and domestic tourists visiting Sauraha adjacent to the Chitwan National Park have mounted elephants to traverse the buffer zone's community forests in search of rare wildlife.

However, the local entrepreneurs who have privately owned and domesticated elephants are worried with a recent Supreme Court verdict. They express their concerns stating that the future of the iconic practice of elephant safaris is in jeopardy. They argue an abrupt halt of elephant safari could devastate the local economy, tourism and harm the animals themselves.

Private elephant owners in Sauraha express readiness...