INDIAN ELEPHANT RESEARCHER AND FELLOW OF THE ROYAL GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY CONDEMNS ELEPHANT POLO EVENT

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From : kisor chaudhuri <kisorpapri Sent :

Thursday, October 12, 2006 7:26 AM To : rnmehrotra CC :

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Mr

R N Mehrotra IFS

 

PCCF & CWLW, Rajasthan

 

Dear Mr Mehrotra

 

This refers to the telephonic discussion we had this morning and my request

for your intervention in stopping the oncoming Elephant Polo show to be held

at Jaipur on 18 November 2006. This rather cruel and unnecessary event of

forcing the giant elephants to run around in heat and dust to amuse a few

outlandish fun seekers will, at the cost of life and pride of

elephants, only help make a few bucks by a few ambitious travel writers and

tour operators.

 

On behalf of all concerned about the conservation and welfare of Asian

elephants, I request you to take the necessary steps to ensure denial of

further ridicule to this hapless giant and not allow the advent of the dark

days of " elephant shows " as organized in Lampang, Chiangmai province of

Thailand. (A letter is also posted to you by postal mail in this regard).

Thanks

 

Kisor Chaudhuri FRGS

 

Wildlife Management Consultant

 

52 Lake Avenue, Calcutta 700 026

 

Tel (33) 2464 6904 / 94334 53426

 

There have been a flood of mails from across the world denouncing this

exhibition of human atrocity on its fellow sharers of a greedy world. I am

attaching a few of such worried comments from a cross section of concerned

people from different corners of this world:

 

Dame Daphne Sheldrick DBE, MBE, MBS, DVMS, 1992 Global 500 Laureate : wrote:

 

" Elephants are intolerant to heat and would naturally be resting under shade

when temperatures soar. I think the adverse publicity that will result from

India embarking on this exercise will far out-weigh any benefits and simply

reflect badly on India's Animal Welfare record and also the reputation of

highly connected people. I would appeal to the authorities to withdraw from

this polo spectacle and play polo instead on horseback, (without the use of

ankuses and prods). "

 

*azam siddiqui*

<azamsiddiqui<http://by122fd.bay122.hotmail.msn.com/cgi-bin/compose?\

mailto=1 & msg=F49FB89F-87C7-42AC-A96E-2D72976E67C0 & start=0 & len=11581 & src= & type=x & \

to=azamsiddiqui (AT) animail (DOT) net & cc= & bcc= & subject= & body= & curmbox=00000000-0000-0000-0\

000-000000000001 & a=bea244bf664bc0d78e726d9d07bdcb515d6c21e64b34b858df6b87606a3bd\

bc1>>

writes:

 

" Having physically played surrogate mother to orphaned ellies at the David

Sheldrick Wildlife Trust under the expert supervision of Dr. Daphne

Sheldrick and having voiced for the rights of the gentle giants back here in

India for more than ten years, I feel I have atleast some experience which

makes me say that 'Elephant Polo' is not something which captive elephants

enjoy demonstrating.

 

It is the sadistic pleasure 'Man' instead derives from the match where the

jumbos are subjected to excruciating pain by the mahouts sitting on its head

who deliberately to maneuver the animal hit it with an ankush below its ear

many a times. It is this practice which is not only inhumane and inflicts

extreme cruelty but for people who claim to understand the animal it is a

shame.

Also it is an unlawful offence in India. "

 

Rob Laidlaw

CBiol MIBiol

Zoocheck Canada Inc.

rob<http://by122fd.bay122.hotmail.msn.com/cgi-bin/compose?mailto=1 & \

msg=F49FB89F-87C7-42AC-A96E-2D72976E67C0 & start=0 & len=11581 & src= & type=x & to=rob@zo\

ocheck.com & cc= & bcc= & subject= & body= & curmbox=00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000001 & \

a=bea244bf664bc0d78e726d9d07bdcb515d6c21e64b34b858df6b87606a3bdbc1>writes:

 

" While the proponents of the elephant polo tournament may feel that

the event will in some way be beneficial to elephants, presumably by

bringing their plight to the attention of a affluent audience, I have

doubts that that will occur. In fact, it is entirely possible that a

completely opposite message will be conveyed and that elephants will

be worse off because of it. "