[Shankar was gifted by the Zimbabwe government to former Indian President Shankar Dayal Sharma. Ms Dhawan says that through Shankar, she wants to raise awareness about the plight of all captive elephants in the country. (Photo by= Nikita Dhawan)]

Twenty-four years ago, a young elephant named Shankar was plucked from the wilderness of Africa, loaded onto a plane to India, and placed in Delhi zoo. Now, a plea in the city's high court seeks to send him back home.
BBC said that the petition, filed by 16-year-old Nikita Dhawan, founder of the non-profit Youth For Animals, alleges that Shankar has been living in isolation for years.

More than 96,500 people have signed it so far.  It demands that he be removed from the zoo and rehabilitated in a wildlife sanctuary that houses other African elephants. It also accuses zoo authorities of mistreating the animal; the BBC contacted officials but they declined to comment. Shankar wasn't always alone; he came to India in 1998 with a companion, Bombai. But in 2005, he died unexpectedly, according to the petition.

Animal rights activists have long advocated for more humane treatment of India's captive elephants, which live in dismal conditions. Many, owned by private individuals, are used for religious processions, logging activities, and sometimes even begging. Shankar's case has also opened up larger questions on whether it's okay to keep a sentient creature like an elephant in captivity. In 2009, the Central Zoo Authority of India had banned the display of elephants in zoos and prohibited keeping an elephant alone for more than six months.