Dispur, Oct. 13 -- The Centre for Research on Animal Rights (CRAR), India, has urged the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) to investigate the transfer of five elephants from Assam to Tamil Nadu in September, alleging discrepancies in ownership records and raising concerns about possible illegal capture and commercial procurement disguised as gifts.

In a letter dated October 12 to the CITES Secretariat in Geneva, CRAR founder and lawyer Alok Hisarwala Gupta sought an inquiry into the transfers of Durga, Rupsing, Shiva, Hiralal and Bijuli to religious institutions in Tamil Nadu. The letter also called for cooperation among India, Nepal and Myanmar to examine possible links between domes...