Lucknow Zoo sends elephants to wildlife parks

LUCKNOW - The Lucknow Zoo Sunday pulled out its two elephants and sent them to two wildlife parks of the state, an official said.

This follows an order of the Central Zoo Authority banning elephants in zoos of the country.

While one of the elephants was shifted to Dudhwa National Park in Lakhimpur district, about 250 km from here, the other was sent to Katarniya Ghat Wildlife Park in Bahraich district, about 160 km from here.

According to a spokesman of the state wildlife department, the pachyderms were dispatched along with their mahouts on trucks Sunday afternoon.

“I know kids visiting the zoo will miss the elephants, who always draw children in very large numbers, but then it cannot be helped,” the official said.

Keeping elephants in private captivity has already been banned by the government.

The use of all privately owned elephants in marriage or other processions was also discontinued following a decision by the state forest and wildlife ministry six months ago.