Elephant polo issues

[Guest guest]

Dear Azam,

I have been informed by Kishor Chaudhuri that he has been

able to get in touch with the Wildlife Warden of Rajasthan regarding this.

He has also informed me that he is in constant touch with Belinda and WPSI

on this. In fact I was with him in his office when he was talking to WPSI to

discuss the best way to stop this event from taking place. It seems that the

lines have been drawn in this debate. CUPA, Zoocheck Canada and

Compassionate Crusaders Trust have made it cogent that a game of elephant

polo violates the dignity of these animals and is not in consonance with

animal welfare and conservation. I think we owe Rob Laidlaw, Debashishda and

Suparna Madam a great deal of gratitude for opposing this game. Kishorda has

also told me that he will do everything in his capacity to get WPSI to

opppose this event. I am very grateful that you have written to Daphne

Sheldrick explaining your stance. Since you know her personally and have

worked with her, I think it was a very appropriate move. I have also made my

personal position clear to Rob Laidlaw and Dame Daphne Sheldrick as well as

all the other organisations who have been contacted. The best thing is that

the protest you started off has at least made people think on the

implications of using elephants in a polo game. As Kisorda told me, getting

elephants to play polo as a conservation and animal welfare move is

reminiscent of displaying emaciated children to highlight human rights

abuses. You have done a terrific job. You had my full fledged support during

the Kaziranga festival and the Parbati Barua case. You have it this time as

well. People may have different views but I salute your courage in

highlighting this event. Edward Berry has also been unstinting in his

support. Even if we fail to stop this event this time around, we have

ruffled enough feathers to ensure that people will think twice before

holding such a game again. If Shand decides to prosecute for defamation,

keep your copy of 'RIVER DOG' ready. I will also bring out copies of the

books I have to present his views on animal welfare and of India. If he

prosecutes, let him get on with it. Kisorda has told me of possible legal

action from our side. You have done a terrific job for elephant welfare for

the past ten years. Dame Daphne Sheldrick will recognise it herself.

Great work and keep it up. We will see what happens.

Best wishes and kind regards,

 

Sincerely yours,

 

 

On 10/11/06, azam24x7 <azamsiddiqui wrote:

>

> TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN

>

>

> This is for all those who have taken interest in the debate of

> whether 'elephant polo' in Jaipur is the right move.

>

> I would like to request all to kindly go through the official

> website of 'Rajasthan Tourism' by clicking a link below:

>

> http://www.rajasthan-tourism.org

>

> In the website it is very cleary mentioned that there is a plan of

> organising the following events:Elephant polo, Elephant race, the

> tug-of-war between Elephant.

>

> I would like to take this opportunity in informing all the

> organisations, individuals, experts in captive elephant conservation

> working in Rajasthan, other parts of India and also those who take

> interest in the animals of India that some of the above mentioned

> events were similarly planned last year by the Assam Government in

> the Kaziranga Centenary Celebtrations.

> But with the interventions of many the events such as Elephant race,

> the tug-of-war between Elephant, Elephant soccer, Elephant mock

> fight etc was scratched of from the schedule.

> The biggest 'VICTORY' for animal rights in Assam and the northeast

> INdia in recent times.

> This simply would not have been possible without the commitment and

> dedication of the following who were quite instrumental in getting

> the circus like events banned:

>

> 1. Smt. Maneka Gandhi, Chairperson, People for Animals

> 2. Ms. Belinda Wright, Executive Director, WPSI-India

> 3. Ms. Anuradha Sawhney, Chief Functionary, PETA-India

> 4. The Animal Welfare Board of India and some honest and caring

> officials in the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests,

> Government of India.

>

> Those who are not aware of the furore, may check the links below:

>

> Torture slur on Kaziranga b?day circus

> http://www.telegraphindia.com/1050205/asp/northeast/story_4338877.asp

>

> Boycott Elephant Festival in Assam, India

> http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/410461279

>

> Kaziranga Centenary Celebration or Elephant Circus ?

> http://www.wpsi-india.org/news/04022005.php

>

> Row over Kaziranga fest

> http://www.indianjungles.com/160205e.htm

>

> Controversy over Kaziranga centenary celebrations

> http://www.hindu.com/2005/02/09/stories/2005020910830300.htm

>

>

>

> Having said that, I want to ask just one question as to why today,

> when a similar event is being organised in another part of India, we

> are not objectiong to it.

>

> Was I wrong when I wrote mails, letters asking people to protest

> during the Kaziranga Centenary elebrations in 2005, advocating the

> rights of captive elephants ?

>

> Were the distinguished experts on animal rights who names I have

> mentioned above wrong ?

>

> I feel the example set in Assam should have been used as a model in

> Rajasthan. I am afraid if things do not go right now, then

> everything could go back to what it was before.

>

> If you feel that Rajasthan tourism is doing wrong by organising or

> promoting these events, then please write to them at:

>

> Savion Travel Services Pvt. Ltd.

> Contact Person: Mr. Dhirendra Tiwari

> Address: 73, Gagan Vihar, Delhi-110 051,

> INDIA Telephone: +(91)-(11)-22442521

> Email : info

>

> If any of you feel that I was wrong, or those who supported me

> during the protests of Kaziranga Centenary Celebrations were wrong,

> please do write to me at: azamsiddiqui

>

> 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]

Dear and Azam,

According to a recent book, THE MEDICI GIRAFFE And Other Tales of Exotic

Animals and Power by Marina Belozerskaya,1. the New York Times reviewer,

William Grimes, noted that Pompey, an infamous Roman emperor,

 

..... gathered hundreds of animals for a mass slaughter in the Circus

Maximus to restore his fading popularity with the Roman public. For four

days, before crowds of 150,000 or more, man and beast fought to the

death. Predators attacked terrified prey. The crowd roared with delight.

And then something strange happened. Late in the games, a group of

elephants, realizing that they were cornered by hunters with spears,

began to wail and moan. The sentiment of the crowd moved in favor of the

elephants, regarded by the Romans as intelligent and virtuous. (Pliny

told the story of an elephant who once wrote in the sand, in Greek

letters, " I, the elephant, wrote this. " ) Miscalculating, Pompey ordered

the elephants slain, bringing the curses of the crowd down on his head.

The games failed....2.

 

Now, over 2000 years later, in the 21st century, we are using elephants

for the entertainment of the populace, arranged by our rulers, in the

form of " elephant polo " . Well, the populace is once again just beginning

to side with the elephants. Not only does elephant polo bring to mind

the Roman Circus, it also brings to mind fox-hunting, big game hunting,

circus acts, elephant culls, the ivory industy, and the many miserable

zoos all over the world. The exploitation and torment of elephants goes

on. And with the blessing of the elete and of course, governments.

 

The members of The Elephant Commentator have occasionally discussed

elephant polo, but as the " sport " isn't well known in North America,

there has been a lack of background information, whereas there is with

circuses and zoos. There isn't the plethora of information about the

abuses happening behind the scenes, as there is with our usual subjects

of investigation. So the discussions have drifted off, without the

needed factual background to make sense of this somewhat alien

entertainment. Now, with Azam, , and Dame Daphne pointing out

what should, perhaps, have been obvious to elephant-lovers, we are

beginning to develop a slow burn about this spectacle. Much needs to be

ferreted out about the behind-the-scenes treatment of the elephants and

to reflect about why this is allowed to continue in our times, and to

take appropriate action.

 

Edward Berry, Moderator,

 

The Elephant Commentator

 

http://groups.msn.com/TheElephantCommentator

<http://groups.msn.com/TheElephantCommentator>

 

 

 

1. Belozershaya, Marina. The Medici Giraffe And Other Tales of Exotic

Animals and Power. Little, Brown & Company, 2006

 

2. William Grimes, " Where Wild Things Are Perks of Power " The New York

Times August 25, 2006

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Dear Azam,

I think below is the post you mention.

Further searching of the archives can be done by visiting:

http://pets.aapn/messages

John, Moderator, AAPN.

 

aapn , Oct 12, 2006, edpipeline " <edpipeline wrote:

 

Dear and Azam,

According to a recent book, THE MEDICI GIRAFFE And Other Tales of Exotic

Animals and Power by Marina Belozerskaya,1. the New York Times reviewer,

William Grimes, noted that Pompey, an infamous Roman emperor,

 

..... gathered hundreds of animals for a mass slaughter in the Circus

Maximus to restore his fading popularity with the Roman public. For four

days, before crowds of 150,000 or more, man and beast fought to the

death. Predators attacked terrified prey. The crowd roared with delight.

And then something strange happened. Late in the games, a group of

elephants, realizing that they were cornered by hunters with spears,

began to wail and moan. The sentiment of the crowd moved in favor of the

elephants, regarded by the Romans as intelligent and virtuous. (Pliny

told the story of an elephant who once wrote in the sand, in Greek

letters, " I, the elephant, wrote this. " ) Miscalculating, Pompey ordered

the elephants slain, bringing the curses of the crowd down on his head.

The games failed....2.

 

Now, over 2000 years later, in the 21st century, we are using elephants

for the entertainment of the populace, arranged by our rulers, in the

form of " elephant polo " . Well, the populace is once again just beginning

to side with the elephants. Not only does elephant polo bring to mind

the Roman Circus, it also brings to mind fox-hunting, big game hunting,

circus acts, elephant culls, the ivory industy, and the many miserable

zoos all over the world. The exploitation and torment of elephants goes

on. And with the blessing of the elete and of course, governments.

 

The members of The Elephant Commentator have occasionally discussed

elephant polo, but as the " sport " isn't well known in North America,

there has been a lack of background information, whereas there is with

circuses and zoos. There isn't the plethora of information about the

abuses happening behind the scenes, as there is with our usual subjects

of investigation. So the discussions have drifted off, without the

needed factual background to make sense of this somewhat alien

entertainment. Now, with Azam, , and Dame Daphne pointing out

what should, perhaps, have been obvious to elephant-lovers, we are

beginning to develop a slow burn about this spectacle. Much needs to be

ferreted out about the behind-the-scenes treatment of the elephants and

to reflect about why this is allowed to continue in our times, and to

take appropriate action.

 

Edward Berry, Moderator,

 

The Elephant Commentator

 

http://groups.msn.com/TheElephantCommentator

 

1. Belozershaya, Marina. The Medici Giraffe And Other Tales of Exotic

Animals and Power. Little, Brown & Company, 2006

 

2. William Grimes, " Where Wild Things Are Perks of Power " The New York

Times August 25, 2006