Elephant Polo in Jaipur : An advertisement for a Circus

[Guest guest]

Dear AAPN colleagues,

 

Many of these wild-caught elephants are undernourished and have been

constantly fighting for survival in the 48+ degrees celcius

temperatures in the streets of Jaipur ferrying tourists for

generations. To put them through this sort of torture in front of a

crowd is cruel, undignified and inexcusable.

 

How can one even dream of to hold such an event in India ? Mr. Shand

is a travel writer, but just as he expects everyone to read his

books, I feel someone should gift him a copy of 'Animal Laws of

India' written by Smt Maneka Gandhi, Ozair Husain and Raj Panjwani.

This book is the bible of animal welfare activists in India and

clearly says how the rights of these gentle giants are protected in

this land. Those who go against are 'offenders' of law.

 

As for the elephant who can play 'polo' whit a mahout sitting on his

head poking the sharp weapon beneath its ear to drive it left,right

and make it run, this appears to be an advertisement for a circus.

 

I suggest you send a powerful email to

<ruth.powys. She is the head of the

NGO 'Elephant Family' (their website is www.elephantfamily.org,

which is where I found Ruth's email address) - Mark Shand is a Board

Member.

 

Elephant family also supports the captive elephant welfare work of

the NGO 'Help in Suffering' in Jaipur, which also appears to be

involved in the upcoming elephant polo tournament in Jaipur. Their

email contact is hisjpr (I found this on their

Australian website www.his-india.org.au).

 

You might also like to get other people to write to Elephant Family

and Help in Suffering.

 

Regards,

 

Azam Siddiqui

[Guest guest]

Dear Azam,

This is in reference to the tele conversation we had

this afternoon and your subsequent posts on this list. I have forwarded the

news report and your messages to the following:

Zoocheck Canada

WSPA Asia

Born Free Foundation

Performing Animal Welfare Society

Wildlife Trust of India

Raj Panjwani

Iain Douglas Hamilton

Cynthia Moss

I have also been able to talk to Kishor Chaudhuri in Kolkata who is a

leading elephant expert in the state and is a fellow of the Royal

Geographical Society(Like you, he has worked with African Elephants).

Kishorda tells me he will do whatever he can to oppose this event. He told

me that Shand narrowly escaped imprisonment when he was travelling around

with his elephant for his book 'Travels On My Elephant.' WTI has also

mentioned that they do not approve of such events. I am sure you are in

touch with Edward who can garner support from US and Canada. Suparna Madam

can also help. WPSI and the Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee may also provide

input.

I hope this is of some assistance. Please feel free to call or e-mail and

keep me informed. Keep the good work and all the best with your eye surgery

expose.

Warm regards,

 

 

 

On 10/9/06, azam24x7 <azamsiddiqui wrote:

>

> Dear AAPN colleagues,

>

> Many of these wild-caught elephants are undernourished and have been

> constantly fighting for survival in the 48+ degrees celcius

> temperatures in the streets of Jaipur ferrying tourists for

> generations. To put them through this sort of torture in front of a

> crowd is cruel, undignified and inexcusable.

>

> How can one even dream of to hold such an event in India ? Mr. Shand

> is a travel writer, but just as he expects everyone to read his

> books, I feel someone should gift him a copy of 'Animal Laws of

> India' written by Smt Maneka Gandhi, Ozair Husain and Raj Panjwani.

> This book is the bible of animal welfare activists in India and

> clearly says how the rights of these gentle giants are protected in

> this land. Those who go against are 'offenders' of law.

>

> As for the elephant who can play 'polo' whit a mahout sitting on his

> head poking the sharp weapon beneath its ear to drive it left,right

> and make it run, this appears to be an advertisement for a circus.

>

> I suggest you send a powerful email to

> <ruth.powys. She is the head of the

> NGO 'Elephant Family' (their website is www.elephantfamily.org,

> which is where I found Ruth's email address) - Mark Shand is a Board

> Member.

>

> Elephant family also supports the captive elephant welfare work of

> the NGO 'Help in Suffering' in Jaipur, which also appears to be

> involved in the upcoming elephant polo tournament in Jaipur. Their

> email contact is hisjpr (I found this on their

> Australian website www.his-india.org.au).

>

> You might also like to get other people to write to Elephant Family

> and Help in Suffering.

>

> Regards,

>

> Azam Siddiqui

>

>

>

For more information on Asian animal issues, please use the search feature

> on the AAPN website: http://www.aapn.org/ or search the list archives at:

> aapn

> Please feel free to send any relevant news or comments to the list at

> aapn

>

[Guest guest]

I cant understand why is it that very few people are voicing against

the event 'Elephant Polo' to be organised in Jaipur ?

 

Till now only a few organisations in India have come forward and

extended unconditional support.

 

Do we actually want to see 'Elephant Polo' being played in this

land, and only then judge whether it amounts to cruelty ?

 

Well, I can only say that if the city of Jaipur is allowed to hold

this event and we watch helplessly. Then those who cannot make it to

the event this time should not loose heart as the state of Assam

will take this opportunity and relax the ban on 'elephant football',

elephant mock fights', 'elephant tug of war', 'elephant races' in

the state so that we all can experience the same thrill in the lush

green landscapes performed by these gentle giants.

 

So my dear colleagues if we do not want this to happen, please send

your valuable comments to AAPN. Time is running out.

 

The victory in Kaziranga Centenary Celebrations 2005 where all

circus like events involving captive elephants were scratched of

from schedule was a result of 'POSITIVE NETWORKING'.

 

This is required yet once again. Its not a local issue involving

only the city of Jaipur, its a national cause.

 

Thanks,

 

Azam Siddiqui

 

aapn , " "

wrote:

>

> Dear Azam,

> This is in reference to the tele conversation

we had

> this afternoon and your subsequent posts on this list. I have

forwarded the

> news report and your messages to the following:

> Zoocheck Canada

> WSPA Asia

> Born Free Foundation

> Performing Animal Welfare Society

> Wildlife Trust of India

> Raj Panjwani

> Iain Douglas Hamilton

> Cynthia Moss

> I have also been able to talk to Kishor Chaudhuri in Kolkata who

is a

> leading elephant expert in the state and is a fellow of the Royal

> Geographical Society(Like you, he has worked with African

Elephants).

> Kishorda tells me he will do whatever he can to oppose this event.

He told

> me that Shand narrowly escaped imprisonment when he was travelling

around

> with his elephant for his book 'Travels On My Elephant.' WTI has

also

> mentioned that they do not approve of such events. I am sure you

are in

> touch with Edward who can garner support from US and Canada.

Suparna Madam

> can also help. WPSI and the Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee may

also provide

> input.

> I hope this is of some assistance. Please feel free to call or e-

mail and

> keep me informed. Keep the good work and all the best with your

eye surgery

> expose.

> Warm regards,

>

>

>

>

> On 10/9/06, azam24x7 <azamsiddiqui wrote:

> >

> > Dear AAPN colleagues,

> >

> > Many of these wild-caught elephants are undernourished and have

been

> > constantly fighting for survival in the 48+ degrees celcius

> > temperatures in the streets of Jaipur ferrying tourists for

> > generations. To put them through this sort of torture in front

of a

> > crowd is cruel, undignified and inexcusable.

> >

> > How can one even dream of to hold such an event in India ? Mr.

Shand

> > is a travel writer, but just as he expects everyone to read his

> > books, I feel someone should gift him a copy of 'Animal Laws of

> > India' written by Smt Maneka Gandhi, Ozair Husain and Raj

Panjwani.

> > This book is the bible of animal welfare activists in India and

> > clearly says how the rights of these gentle giants are protected

in

> > this land. Those who go against are 'offenders' of law.

> >

> > As for the elephant who can play 'polo' whit a mahout sitting on

his

> > head poking the sharp weapon beneath its ear to drive it

left,right

> > and make it run, this appears to be an advertisement for a

circus.

> >

> > I suggest you send a powerful email to

> > <ruth.powys. She is the head of the

> > NGO 'Elephant Family' (their website is www.elephantfamily.org,

> > which is where I found Ruth's email address) - Mark Shand is a

Board

> > Member.

> >

> > Elephant family also supports the captive elephant welfare work

of

> > the NGO 'Help in Suffering' in Jaipur, which also appears to be

> > involved in the upcoming elephant polo tournament in Jaipur.

Their

> > email contact is hisjpr (I found this on their

> > Australian website www.his-india.org.au).

> >

> > You might also like to get other people to write to Elephant

Family

> > and Help in Suffering.

> >

> > Regards,

> >

> > Azam Siddiqui

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > For more information on Asian animal issues, please use the

search feature

> > on the AAPN website: http://www.aapn.org/ or search the list

archives at:

> > aapn

> > Please feel free to send any relevant news or comments to the

list at

> > aapn

> >