Forest Department returns two elephants to owners after nearly two years

The Forest Department has returned two elephants, ‘Samrat’ and ‘Niharkoli’, to their owners after they were kept at Gazipur Safari Park in Sreepur for nearly two years.

The elephants were handed over to their owners on August 12, Tarek Rahman, acting officer of Gazipur Safari Park, confirmed to The Daily Star today.

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The elephants had been kept at the park after allegations that they were being abused and used to collect money from people.

According to Forest Department sources, Samrat was rescued after it crushed its mahout, Nazrul Islam, to death in Kotalipara, Gopalganj, on September 24, 2024. It was later taken to the safari park.

Niharkoli was rescued from Bhulta in Narayanganj on August 31, 2024, following the allegations.

Md Sanaullah Patwari, a forest conservator, said the owners had given undertakings that the elephants would not be abused or used for collecting money.

The elephants were returned after their owners submitted bonds on Tk 300 stamp papers.

Sanaullah said the elephants were not returned because of the deaths of two elephants at the safari park earlier this month. Rather, they were handed back after their owners submitted applications in accordance with the rules.