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<p>We are aware of reports that some elephants in use in the tourist industry in India
have been captured as calves and then beaten and mistreated. This practice is illegal
in India. Officials in London have discussed this issue with Save The Asian Elephant
(STAE), an organisation that works to stop this cruel treatment.</p><p>The UK is committed
to conserving Asian elephants and recognises the growing threats to their populations,
particularly from poaching and cross-border, illegal trade in live animals to feed
the demand by the tourist and entertainment industries. The UK has been working internationally
through the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) in discussion
with elephant range states, including India, to increase protection for Asian elephants.
We secured agreement from the Indian government in 2014 for elephant range states
to put in place measures to prevent illegal trade in live elephants.</p><p>It is not
for the Government to make British citizens aware of this practice. However, we will
continue to work together with the Indian authorities, as well as STAE and other non-governmental
organisations, on protecting elephants.</p>
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