RAJASTHANI ANIMAL WELFARE ORGANISATION TO ORGANISE ELEPHANT POLO TOURNAMENT

[Guest guest]

http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=142773

Mark of an elephant man

Mark Shand is going to be part of an elephant polo tournament to be held in

Jaipur on November 18

SUMAN TARAFDAR

<http://www.financialexpress.com/about/feedback.html>

Posted online: Sunday, October 08, 2006 at 0034 hours IST

 

India may generously feed milk to Lord Vighneshwara when occasion demands, but

going by everyday incidents of maltreatment and cruelty, treating elephants well

is not clearly not a priority area for most of its populace.

 

That's where the exceptions come in. Englishman Mark Shand, (better known as

Camilla Parker Bowles' brother) popular as the 'Elephant Man,' and his

organisation, The Elephant Family (co-founded by him in 2002) have been at the

forefront of conservation efforts to save the Asian elephant. " Elephants have

just one enemy – man, Asian elephants are even more endangered than African ones

as they are completely out of space. "

 

Top 8 African Elephant sites Find top African Elephant sites Shand's passion for

elephants began when he fell in love with Tara, his elephant who travelled

extensively with him and on whom he later wrote his best selling book, Travels

on my Elephant. The book not just won him the British Book Awards Travel Writer

of the Year in 1992, it opened eyes for many in India and abroad of the

extremely pathetic condition that this noble animal has suffered in the past few

decades. Since then has written another book on the female mahout, Queen of the

Elephants, besides taking up diverse activities to highlight and ameliorate the

condition of the elephants.

 

" In the last 100 years, we have lost 80% of all elephants. 8,000 have been

slaughtered. It's been a war on them. And yet they are extremely intelligent

beings – just like humans, they like playing, get depressed, commit suicide.

 

While Mark Shand's commitment to providing a better life to them is diverse, he

is going to involve himself for the cause in a rather unique way in the coming

weeks. He is part of an elephant polo tournament, to be held in Jaipur on

November 18.

 

The tournament, supported by international luxury jewellery brand Cartier, will

have four four-a-side teams, including celebrity teams from the west and India.

 

" We have to give dignity back to the elephant. The tournament is a high profile

one as the kind of people who will come to see the tournament are those who can

put pressure on governments, " elaborates Shand. He is clear that at the current

rate, the next generation will no longer be able to see elephants easily. " We

need to identify two or three reserves like Kaziranga where they can stay, he

stresses.

 

Elephant polo, popular in countries like Thailand, has a smaller pitch. " The

tournament will take care to see that the elephants are treated well, " says

Shand. " Jaipur has over 100 elephants, usually working in transporting tourists

to Amber Fort. Along with a local organisation, Help in Suffering, which works

with various animals, the tournament will highlight the condition of elephants

in the city and elsewhere. Polo may be an unsual route to take to improve the

condition of elephants, but that's what it takes, Shand is perfectly.

[Guest guest]

It is not surprising.

Mark Shand has the blessing of Rajmata Gayatri Devi. The twosome

with their presence at the Kaziranga Centenary Celebrations in 2005

in Assam tried their level best to promote and glorify events

hoisted by the Government of Assam, 'Elephant football, elephant

mock fight, elephant tug-of-war' and other circus like events.

Thankfully with support of several eminent animal rights experts and

organisations in India all the above mentioned events were scratched

off from the list.

Mark Shand is basically a traveller without any compassion for

animals, who likes writing and that is the only purpose of his

visits in India. I have many valid objections to his claim of being

an expert on animals and animal welfare ( specially elephants ). He

has been seen many a times on National Geographic sponsored

documentaries relishing on 'RATS' and other wild creatures with some

remote tribals of Arunachal Pradesh.

His book 'River Dog' has hurt the sentiments of the Assamese people

as he wrote 'they eat dogs', whereas the truth is that it is

the 'Nagas' who eat dogs and not the Assamese.

But with his Royal connection back in Britain and his Royal

connection back here with Rajmata Gayatri Devi, this man is all out

in full strength to prove just how much he cares for elephants.

The Assam government went to the extent of naming him as

the 'International Ambassador' for the Kaziranga Centenary

Celebrations.

I still fail to understand why this person has not been charged for

his offences in participating in events of animal/ elephant abuse.

He also claims to have very good contacts with a lot of senoir

animal rights activists in this country.

He also had tremed Ms Parbati Barua, the elephant catcher of Assam

as 'The Elephant Queen' in one of his books. The reality of this

queen was exposed by Mr Mike Pandey though when he filmed how a wild

elephant was tortured and later killed by Ms Parbati Baura and her

team. This film bagged a green oscar for Mike.

I am sure like me there must be many who agree that Mark Shand

should be restricted in his moves. This is INDIA and the law is

equal for all no matter how Royal one is. Plus as we expet every

Indian to abide by the laws, I am sure Mark Shand is no exception

whilst he is in indian land.

If we allow people like Mark Shand freedom to patronize events such

as elephant polo etc it will be a slap on the face of the thousands

of Indians who have been voicing for the rights of these jumbos.

Once this gets a go ahead in jaipur, other states will follow.

I tried to stop him from doing so in Assam and succeded, I am sure

my friends in Jaipur will also do the same.

 

Thanks,

 

Azam

 

aapn , " "

wrote:

>

> http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?

content_id=142773

> Mark of an elephant man

> Mark Shand is going to be part of an elephant polo tournament to

be held in Jaipur on November 18

> SUMAN TARAFDAR

> <http://www.financialexpress.com/about/feedback.html>

> Posted online: Sunday, October 08, 2006 at 0034 hours IST

>

> India may generously feed milk to Lord Vighneshwara when occasion

demands, but going by everyday incidents of maltreatment and

cruelty, treating elephants well is not clearly not a priority area

for most of its populace.

>

> That's where the exceptions come in. Englishman Mark Shand,

(better known as Camilla Parker Bowles' brother) popular as

the 'Elephant Man,' and his organisation, The Elephant Family (co-

founded by him in 2002) have been at the forefront of conservation

efforts to save the Asian elephant. " Elephants have just one enemy –

man, Asian elephants are even more endangered than African ones as

they are completely out of space. "

>

> Top 8 African Elephant sites Find top African Elephant sites

Shand's passion for elephants began when he fell in love with Tara,

his elephant who travelled extensively with him and on whom he later

wrote his best selling book, Travels on my Elephant. The book not

just won him the British Book Awards Travel Writer of the Year in

1992, it opened eyes for many in India and abroad of the extremely

pathetic condition that this noble animal has suffered in the past

few decades. Since then has written another book on the female

mahout, Queen of the Elephants, besides taking up diverse activities

to highlight and ameliorate the condition of the elephants.

>

> " In the last 100 years, we have lost 80% of all elephants. 8,000

have been slaughtered. It's been a war on them. And yet they are

extremely intelligent beings – just like humans, they like playing,

get depressed, commit suicide.

>

> While Mark Shand's commitment to providing a better life to them

is diverse, he is going to involve himself for the cause in a rather

unique way in the coming weeks. He is part of an elephant polo

tournament, to be held in Jaipur on November 18.

>

> The tournament, supported by international luxury jewellery brand

Cartier, will have four four-a-side teams, including celebrity teams

from the west and India.

>

> " We have to give dignity back to the elephant. The tournament is

a high profile one as the kind of people who will come to see the

tournament are those who can put pressure on governments, "

elaborates Shand. He is clear that at the current rate, the next

generation will no longer be able to see elephants easily. " We need

to identify two or three reserves like Kaziranga where they can

stay, he stresses.

>

> Elephant polo, popular in countries like Thailand, has a smaller

pitch. " The tournament will take care to see that the elephants are

treated well, " says Shand. " Jaipur has over 100 elephants, usually

working in transporting tourists to Amber Fort. Along with a local

organisation, Help in Suffering, which works with various animals,

the tournament will highlight the condition of elephants in the city

and elsewhere. Polo may be an unsual route to take to improve the

condition of elephants, but that's what it takes, Shand is perfectly.

>

[Guest guest]

Dear Azam,

I concur with your views. I don't know if he likes

writing but having read his two books 'Travels on My Elephant' and 'Queen of

the Elephants' I can say that not only is he an appallingly bad writer, he

is culturally insensitive, racist and bloated with arrogance. But what else

do you expect from royal families? As social parasites, the sooner they are

stripped of their 'royal' status, the better for all of us. People like

Shand are still living in the days of the Raj. Someone should tell him that

the Raj died in India sixty years ago and the days of so called royal

curiosities like elephant polo are surely limited.

I interviewed Sanjay Upadhyay on Friday, many thanks for the contact.

Best wishes and kind regards,

 

 

 

On 10/8/06, azam24x7 <azamsiddiqui wrote:

>

> It is not surprising.

> Mark Shand has the blessing of Rajmata Gayatri Devi. The twosome

> with their presence at the Kaziranga Centenary Celebrations in 2005

> in Assam tried their level best to promote and glorify events

> hoisted by the Government of Assam, 'Elephant football, elephant

> mock fight, elephant tug-of-war' and other circus like events.

> Thankfully with support of several eminent animal rights experts and

> organisations in India all the above mentioned events were scratched

> off from the list.

> Mark Shand is basically a traveller without any compassion for

> animals, who likes writing and that is the only purpose of his

> visits in India. I have many valid objections to his claim of being

> an expert on animals and animal welfare ( specially elephants ). He

> has been seen many a times on National Geographic sponsored

> documentaries relishing on 'RATS' and other wild creatures with some

> remote tribals of Arunachal Pradesh.

> His book 'River Dog' has hurt the sentiments of the Assamese people

> as he wrote 'they eat dogs', whereas the truth is that it is

> the 'Nagas' who eat dogs and not the Assamese.

> But with his Royal connection back in Britain and his Royal

> connection back here with Rajmata Gayatri Devi, this man is all out

> in full strength to prove just how much he cares for elephants.

> The Assam government went to the extent of naming him as

> the 'International Ambassador' for the Kaziranga Centenary

> Celebrations.

> I still fail to understand why this person has not been charged for

> his offences in participating in events of animal/ elephant abuse.

> He also claims to have very good contacts with a lot of senoir

> animal rights activists in this country.

> He also had tremed Ms Parbati Barua, the elephant catcher of Assam

> as 'The Elephant Queen' in one of his books. The reality of this

> queen was exposed by Mr Mike Pandey though when he filmed how a wild

> elephant was tortured and later killed by Ms Parbati Baura and her

> team. This film bagged a green oscar for Mike.

> I am sure like me there must be many who agree that Mark Shand

> should be restricted in his moves. This is INDIA and the law is

> equal for all no matter how Royal one is. Plus as we expet every

> Indian to abide by the laws, I am sure Mark Shand is no exception

> whilst he is in indian land.

> If we allow people like Mark Shand freedom to patronize events such

> as elephant polo etc it will be a slap on the face of the thousands

> of Indians who have been voicing for the rights of these jumbos.

> Once this gets a go ahead in jaipur, other states will follow.

> I tried to stop him from doing so in Assam and succeded, I am sure

> my friends in Jaipur will also do the same.

>

> Thanks,

>

> Azam

>

> aapn , " "

> wrote:

> >

> > http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?

> content_id=142773

> > Mark of an elephant man

> > Mark Shand is going to be part of an elephant polo tournament to

> be held in Jaipur on November 18

> > SUMAN TARAFDAR

> > <http://www.financialexpress.com/about/feedback.html>

> > Posted online: Sunday, October 08, 2006 at 0034 hours IST

> >

> > India may generously feed milk to Lord Vighneshwara when occasion

> demands, but going by everyday incidents of maltreatment and

> cruelty, treating elephants well is not clearly not a priority area

> for most of its populace.

> >

> > That's where the exceptions come in. Englishman Mark Shand,

> (better known as Camilla Parker Bowles' brother) popular as

> the 'Elephant Man,' and his organisation, The Elephant Family (co-

> founded by him in 2002) have been at the forefront of conservation

> efforts to save the Asian elephant. " Elephants have just one enemy –

> man, Asian elephants are even more endangered than African ones as

> they are completely out of space. "

> >

> > Top 8 African Elephant sites Find top African Elephant sites

> Shand's passion for elephants began when he fell in love with Tara,

> his elephant who travelled extensively with him and on whom he later

> wrote his best selling book, Travels on my Elephant. The book not

> just won him the British Book Awards Travel Writer of the Year in

> 1992, it opened eyes for many in India and abroad of the extremely

> pathetic condition that this noble animal has suffered in the past

> few decades. Since then has written another book on the female

> mahout, Queen of the Elephants, besides taking up diverse activities

> to highlight and ameliorate the condition of the elephants.

> >

> > " In the last 100 years, we have lost 80% of all elephants. 8,000

> have been slaughtered. It's been a war on them. And yet they are

> extremely intelligent beings – just like humans, they like playing,

> get depressed, commit suicide.

> >

> > While Mark Shand's commitment to providing a better life to them

> is diverse, he is going to involve himself for the cause in a rather

> unique way in the coming weeks. He is part of an elephant polo

> tournament, to be held in Jaipur on November 18.

> >

> > The tournament, supported by international luxury jewellery brand

> Cartier, will have four four-a-side teams, including celebrity teams

> from the west and India.

> >

> > " We have to give dignity back to the elephant. The tournament is

> a high profile one as the kind of people who will come to see the

> tournament are those who can put pressure on governments, "

> elaborates Shand. He is clear that at the current rate, the next

> generation will no longer be able to see elephants easily. " We need

> to identify two or three reserves like Kaziranga where they can

> stay, he stresses.

> >

> > Elephant polo, popular in countries like Thailand, has a smaller

> pitch. " The tournament will take care to see that the elephants are

> treated well, " says Shand. " Jaipur has over 100 elephants, usually

> working in transporting tourists to Amber Fort. Along with a local

> organisation, Help in Suffering, which works with various animals,

> the tournament will highlight the condition of elephants in the city

> and elsewhere. Polo may be an unsual route to take to improve the

> condition of elephants, but that's what it takes, Shand is perfectly.

> >

>

>

>

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