EXCLUSIVE : PETA MEMBERS BOMBARD CARTIER IN FRANCE

[Guest guest]

For Immediate Release:

 

14 November 2006

 

 

 

ANIMAL ACTIVISTS DRESSED AS ELEPHANTS TELL CARTIER IT IS TIME TO STOP

INDIAN ELEPHANT CRUELTY

 

PETA Members Urge Famous Watchmaker to Stop Its Sponsorship of

Elephant Polo

 

 

 

Paris – Members of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA)

Europe, in chains and wearing prison costumes and elephant masks, will

hold signs reading, " Cartier: Time to Stop Elephant Cruelty " outside

Cartier headquarters this Thursday demanding the company cancel its

sponsorship of an elephant polo game scheduled to be held in Jaipur,

India, this Saturday. The protest comes on the heels of a meeting

between PETA and Cartier, during which PETA representatives showed

undercover footage of inhumane treatment of elephants in India – some

of the very same elephants who will be used in the polo match.

 

 

 

PETA Europe points out that elephants are highly intelligent and

sentient animals. To force them to perform physically uncomfortable

tricks or obey confusing commands, trainers use extremely cruel

methods that inflict pain and instil fear. Many trainers beat

elephants with bullhooks and keep them chained for long periods of

time. A recent undercover investigation conducted by PETA in India

found that elephants with apparent ankus wounds spent their entire

days standing in the hot sun with no water available to them – often

in their own faeces and urine – or trudging up and down to tourist

attractions, while being poked with the ankus or being hit by sticks.

 

 

 

Nearly all captive Indian elephants have been captured from the wild.

Taken from their natural homes and families, captive elephants suffer

from chronic physical ailments, social and emotional deprivation and

premature death. They are robbed of their most basic needs, including

social companionship and adequate space to exercise.

 

 

 

" Cartier should stick to selling watches and jewellery and leave the

elephants alone " , says PETA supporter. " Elephants belong in the wild,

not on polo fields where they are forced to obey confusing commands

under the threat of punishment for the promotion of Cartier products. "

 

 

 

For more information, visit PETAFrance.com.