Destroy ivory stocks only after taking samples for DNA tests, Madras High Court directs T.N. forest department

The Madras High Court has directed the Tamil Nadu forest department to destroy the ivory in its possession only after taking photographs; videograph; measuring the height, weight and circumference of the tusks; and after retaining samples of each and every piece for conducting DNA tests, if necessary.

A special Division Bench of Justices N. Sathish Kumar and D. Bharatha Chakravarthy, constituted to hear cases related to forests and wildlife, issued the direction after Special Government Pleader (Forests) T. Seenivasan told the court that steps were afoot to destroy the seized ivory in accordance with law.

Referring to written instructions received from Principal Chief Conservator of Forests-cum-Chief Wildlife Warden Rakesh Kumar Dogra, the SGP told the court that the September 2024 news reports regarding one tonne of ivory having been stolen from the Arignar Anna Zoological Park at Vandalur were incorrect.

He said, only two tusks totally weighing one kilogram were stolen and that they were subsequently recovered. However, since the court insisted on destroying the seized ivory in order to prevent such incidents of theft, the forest department had begun the process under the Wild Life Disposal of Wild Animal Article Rules, 2023.

In order to ensure transparency in the audit of ivory stocks and their destruction, the process would be conducted before a committee comprising representatives from the local bodies concerned, a representative of the Revenue department (not below the rank of Tahsildar) and a wildlife expert, the SGP said.

He also stated that the court appointed amici curiae T. Mohan, Chevanan Mohan, Rahul Balaji, and M. Santhanaraman would also be informed about the destruction venue, date, and time so that they could also be present and inspect the process of destruction in person.

The submissions were made during the hearing of a petition filed by activist S. Muralidharan. The SGP said, the forest department had also identified an incinerator facility at Gummidipoondi in Tiruvallur district for destroying the seized ivory which was free of legal proceedings and other encumbrances.

After recording his submissions, the judges ordered that the stocks should be destroyed only after shooting photographs and videograph besides retaining the samples for taking DNA tests, if the latter was required in future in connection with the criminal cases related to the seized ivory.

The court also ordered that all the details regarding the ivory stocks should be tabulated and submitted before it on January 23, 2026.