(IN) School children protest against Elephant rides

[Guest guest]

*Dear Eti,*

* Thank you for posting this item on AAPN. Could you kindly

mention the source for future reference? I am also impressed by your

collection of regional news cuttings on the elephant issues post Cartier

elephant polo. As suggested, we should prepare an archive of all this news

material, English and vernacular, regional, national and international.

Maybe you can help Azam to load them on his website?*

* It is nice to note your steadfast efforts on behalf of the Jaipur

elephants in the face of concerted opposition and threats from the

proponents of elephant polo. What happened immediately after the

resolution period at AfA in Madras is still fresh in our minds as also the

tacit threat issued against me a couple of weeks ago. We should not waver as

we now have enough resources to take them on on their own ground should they

organise another elephant polo match. We have opposed them once and we will

oppose them again and we will oppose them every time until they get their

hands off this exploitative activity. Your efforts to aid the camapign are

much appreciated.*

* I am also grateful for your support on the proposed Indo Japanese elephant

deal. I hope that you have been able to get in touch with Kerry and PICAS on

the pigeon issue; please let me know if there is any other way in which I

could assist.*

* Your evident enthusiasm and dedication to the cause will surely forward it

in one way or another and I wish you loads of luck for your forthcoming

exams.*

* Kind regards,*

**

* *

 

 

On 4/24/07, etivyas <etivyas wrote:

>

> Jaipur (Rajasthan), Apr 23: Scores of school children gathered

> outside Jaipur's Amer Fort today to urge tourists not to go on

> elephant rides, as the animals are victims of maltreatment.

>

> The children joined hands with several animal right activists and

> shouted slogans against what they termed the 'inhuman treatment' of

> elephants.

> " Our fight is with the Government, which is promoting elephant rides

> just to increase its revenue and promote its tourism. An elephant is

> a wild animal and when other wild animals like lions, beers and

> snakes have been rescued from this, then why are we promoting

> elephant rides?, " asked Namrata, one of the protestors.

> The students claimed that the condition of elephants worsened in

> summer, as their owners could not provide them with enough water to

> drink.

> " They don't get water to drink and are being mistreated. This is not

> fair. Even their schedules have been fixed - four rides in the day

> and two at night, " said Tanmay Chaturvedi, a student.

> Children distributed pamphlets among tourists trying to dissuade

> them from taking the rides. While most tourists appeared confused,

> several avoided the rides.

> " After reading this, I have decided not to go on the ride just to

> protect the elephants, " said Teresa, a foreign tourist.elephants are

> not native to Rajasthan and were only introduced centuries back by

> the states Rajput rulers.

> The elephant ride, an integral part of the tourist itinerary, was

> introduced way back in 1953 with a single elephant.

> The 16th-century Amer Fort, a few miles from Jaipur, is an

> attractive tourist destination for both domestic and foreign

> visitors.

>

>

>