WSPA CONDEMNS ELEPHANT POLO TOURNAMENT

[Guest guest]

*8th November 2006*

 

* *

 

*Dear *

 

*I am writing on behalf of the World Society for the Protection of Animals

(WSPA), the world's largest federation of animal welfare groups, with over

700 Member Societies in more than 145 countries. WSPA is recognized by the

United Nations and works to raise the standards of animal welfare throughout

the world.*

 

*WSPA's policies fundamentally oppose both:*

 

1. *the use, confinement, exhibition or performance of wild animals

for commercial gain and/or human entertainment; and *

2. *the use of animals in sport or for entertainment when such use is

contrary to the animals' nature, or may involve suffering or adversely

affect the animals' welfare. *

 

*WSPA must, therefore, object in principle to the forthcoming elephant polo

match scheduled to take place in Jaipur on 18th November 2006. Despite

organizers taking precautions to ensure that the most severe elephant

welfare concerns are addressed at the event, WSPA shares the concerns raised

by many others on www.freewebs.com/elephantpolo** regarding the use of

elephants in a polo tournament in Jaipur. This event, if it goes ahead, will

only serve to perpetuate the use of elephants in polo matches, particularly

in other countries where elephant welfare concerns are not addressed

appropriately. *

 

*Best regards,*

 

* *

 

*Roy Jones BSc PhD*

 

*Wildlife Project Manager (Asia)*

*

 

N.B. WSPA and WWF Finland fund a humane elephant training project in Nepal

and a website has been created giving basic information on this project and

on humane elephant training methods in general. The link for anyone

interested in finding out more is: **

http://koti.welho.com/htelkanr/elephant_training.htm*<http://koti.welho.com/htel\

kanr/elephant_training.htm>