Animal Nepal supports PETA's protest against Elephant Polo Cup in Nepal

[Guest guest]

Animal Nepal supports PEtA's campaign to ban elephant polo in Nepal. In

order to make the elephants respond quickly mahouts during training use

a steel hook, a cruel device that causes open wounds. Thailand in 2002

banned elephant polo as well as the use of 'use painful techniques or

devices that may cause physical injury, pain, or suffering to an

elephant'. A wildlife trainer during a visit to Chitwan National Park

Animal Nepal recently proved that elephants can be trained by using

humane techniques, such as rewarding good behaviour. Animal Nepal calls

upon the Nepalese government to stop the use of elephants for

entertainment and include such legislation in the upcoming Animal

Welfare Act.

 

-------

 

Link: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2090-2460601,00.html

 

The Sunday Times - Scotland

 

The Sunday Times November 19, 2006

 

Elephant polo in cruelty row

 

Dean Nelson in Delhi

 

ELEPHANT polo is one of the few sports in which Scotland rules the

world, but the shine has been taken off its success with allegations

of cruelty.

 

The world championships are being targeted by animal rights

campaigners who want to ban the sport. Campaigners, led by People for

the Ethical Treatment of Animals, are to protest against the Elephant

Polo World Cup in Nepal, where the Scotland team will defend their

world title.

 

They say the sport mistreats an endangered animal to amuse Hooray

Henries and to promote luxury brands. The World Cup is sponsored by

Chivas Regal whisky. A smaller tournament in Jaipur, organised by Mark

Shand, brother of Camilla Parker Bowles, is sponsored by Cartier.

 

The sport is believed to have originated among Rajasthan's maharajas

and was developed into a modern game by James Manclark, the Scots

landowner and former bobsleigh champion, and his friend Jim Edwards,

owner of the Tiger Tops safari estate in Nepal.

 

The game is loosely based on equestrian polo, with four elephants per

team, each with a " mahout " who rides the elephant and a player secured

by a harness with the polo stick. Instead of eight chukkas, elephant

polo has two of 10 minutes each to spare the animals.

 

The controversy surrounds the use of a bullhook to direct the

elephants. It is a sharp steel hook used to prod the elephant into

obeying its mahout's instruction - like spurs or a crop for a horse.

 

According to the campaigners, the hooks cause open wounds which become

infected and cause the elephant great pain and discomfort.

 

While both competitions say they will not use bullhooks during the

games, most elephants are trained by mahouts who do use them.

 

Jim Long, a spokesman for Chivas and one of its world cup team

players, said that the company was not aware of any abuse of elephants.