India: Elephants

(asked on 4th March 2020) - View Source

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with his Indian counterpart on the treatment of endangered Asian elephants in that country.


Answered by
Nigel Adams Portrait
Nigel Adams
This question was answered on 13th March 2020

The Government takes reports of animal cruelty throughout the world seriously and is committed to raising standards of animal welfare at home and abroad. We welcome Prime Minister Modi's passion for preserving and protecting India's diverse wildlife. The Government continues to engage on the issue, including at the India-hosted COP13 of the Convention of Migratory Species in Gujarat from 16-20 February where ten new species were afforded increased protection, including Asian Elephants. Modi spoke to the conference about India's successes, including initiatives to protect Asian elephants.

The former Prime Minister raised elephant welfare with the Government of India in 2015, when Prime Minister Modi confirmed India had laws in place to protect elephants.

Reticulating Splines