Most of us have who have been to Jaipur, have also visited the grand Amer Fort. Maybe, we might even have taken rides on elephants there. We may not have realised then that this was cruelty for the animals. Why? Because Rajasthan is not part of India’s elephant-range states. Here, two foreign tourists ride an elephant in the Fort. Photo: World Animal Protection.The India-wing of London-based World Animal Protection (WAP), an animal rights and advocacy group, has been campaigning to retire the nearly 100-odd captive elephants in Amer Fort. The elephants, they say, suffer from a host of maladies and injuries suffered due to their incarceration in the fort. Here, injuries are seen on an elephant in the Fort. Photo: World Animal Protection.Earlier this year, in February, some 20 elephants were retired after a team of veterinarians constituted by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) recommended so. The team had visited the elephants from July 23-25, 2020. Here, a shackle is shown on an elephant’s foot. Photo: World Animal Protection.On August 3, the Project Elephant cell of the MoEF&CC under Chairman Brajendra Swarup organised an all India stakeholder meeting on the plight of captive elephants held in a variety of situations across the country. In the wake of this meet, the WAP has asked the government to retire the remaining elephants. Here a mahout rides an elephant in Amer Fort. Photo: Shubhobroto Ghosh / WAPAccording to the records of MoEF&CC, there are 2,675 captive elephants across India. Of these 1,821 are in private custody. The 2010 ‘Gaja’ report by MoEF&CC gives specific recommendations on how to deal with the issue of captive elephants. Here a mahout sits on top of an elephant in Amer Fort. Photo: Shubhobroto Ghosh / WAP