No decision to free all captive elephants: Govt

NEW DELHI: The government has not taken any decision to free all captive elephants to wild, the Rajya Sabha was told on Monday.

However, a decision to rehabilitate captive elephants only from zoos to the wild has been taken, Minister of State for Finance Namo Narain Meena, who is currently holding the charge of Environment Ministry, said in a written reply.

"The Central government has not decided to free all elephants to wild for their safety and free movement.

"The government has taken a decision to rehabilitate captive elephants only from zoos to elephant camps or rehabilitation centres and other facilities available with the forest departments at national parks or wildlife sanctuaries," the Minister stated.