• May 25, 2014. An elephant and its handler walk on the riverbank at dusk. Mahouts survive by giving rides to passers-by and hiring the animals out for religious festivals, events and weddings.
    May 25, 2014. An elephant and its handler walk on the riverbank at dusk. Mahouts survive by giving rides to passers-by and hiring the animals out for religious festivals, events and weddings.
  • August 29, 2014. Devotees welcome a female elephant Gulabo for Gaja (elephant) pooja at the Sree Vinayaka Mandir in New Delhi. Ganesh Chaturthi is the Hindu festival celebrated in honour of the god Ganesha, the elephant-headed, remover of obstacles and the god of beginnings and wisdom.
    August 29, 2014. Devotees welcome a female elephant Gulabo for Gaja (elephant) pooja at the Sree Vinayaka Mandir in New Delhi. Ganesh Chaturthi is the Hindu festival celebrated in honour of the god Ganesha, the elephant-headed, remover of obstacles and the god of beginnings and wisdom.
  • September 12, 2014. An elephant loaded with fodder pillaged from the city’s trees is ridden by a mahout on a busy road in New Delhi.
    September 12, 2014. An elephant loaded with fodder pillaged from the city’s trees is ridden by a mahout on a busy road in New Delhi.
  • September 6, 2014. An elephant handler assesses his work of decorating his elephant for an Indian wedding as a street sweeper walks by.
    September 6, 2014. An elephant handler assesses his work of decorating his elephant for an Indian wedding as a street sweeper walks by.
  • September 11 2014,. An elephant loaded with fodder pillaged from the city’s trees navigates a busy Delihi road in monsoon rain.
    September 11 2014,. An elephant loaded with fodder pillaged from the city’s trees navigates a busy Delihi road in monsoon rain.
  • May 5 2014. A mahout lies down on male elephant Gangaram with an iron bull-hook to hand at the handler’s camp, as it lies on its side exposing the cracked soles of its feet near.
    May 5 2014. A mahout lies down on male elephant Gangaram with an iron bull-hook to hand at the handler’s camp, as it lies on its side exposing the cracked soles of its feet near.
  • May 6, 2014. A handler stands on one of three elephants in the Yamuna River and beats it with a bamboo stick.
    May 6, 2014. A handler stands on one of three elephants in the Yamuna River and beats it with a bamboo stick.
  • August 28, 2014. A male elephant tethered by a rope and a shackle with spikes inside under a bridge crossing the Yamuna River.
    August 28, 2014. A male elephant tethered by a rope and a shackle with spikes inside under a bridge crossing the Yamuna River.
  • Septemder 2, 2014. An elephant walks down a steps and passes Hindu worshippers on the 5th day of the Ganesh Chaturthi religious festival.
    Septemder 2, 2014. An elephant walks down a steps and passes Hindu worshippers on the 5th day of the Ganesh Chaturthi religious festival.

World

Delhi’s last urban elephants - in pictures

Rob Gurdebeke

April 15, 2015

  • English
  • Arabic

Elephants have been kept on the banks of the Yamuna River in Delhi for centuries. However, the changing environment of the city and mounting pressure from animal welfare activists has culminated in a Supreme Court Judgement on April 17 on banning the exploitation of elephants. The ruling looks set to consign this ancient way of life to the history books. Here photographer Simon de Trey-White documents the unusual working lives of the ‘Hathi-Walas’.

DelhiIndiaSouth Asia