The Shivamogga Wildlife Division is under fire for permitting elephant rides at the Sakrebailu Elephant Camp, after photos of tourists riding a single elephant on official tickets circulated online. Reports revealed that the elephant endured up to 11 hour-long rides in one day, leading wildlife activist Joseph Hoover to call this practice a “violation of animal welfare regulations.” Hoover criticized the forest department for prioritizing tourism over animal protection and demanded an immediate halt to the rides.
In response, Shivamogga Wildlife DCF Prasanna Krishna Patgar stated that the rides, resumed post-monsoon, occur within a restricted boundary and are not safaris. The camp, located near the Tunga River, charges ₹100 for the ride, a practice prohibited elsewhere in the state.
Read More: