BBC: Call to end elephant polo

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Link: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/6200734.stm

 

Call to end elephant polo links

 

Animal rights campaigners have called on a whisky firm to end its

sponsorship of the elephant polo world cup.

Advocates For Animals has urged Chivas Regal Whisky and the Duke of

Argyll, who has captained victorious Scotland teams, to end their

links to the sport.

 

The group claimed forcing the animals to take part was " totally

unnatural " and could lead to serious injury.

 

However, a spokesman for Chivas said he was confident the animals

that took part in tournament were well treated.

 

The call coincided with the final of the World Elephant Polo

Tournament in Nepal, which Scotland won for the third year in a row.

 

The sport, which began in 1982, is based on rules similar to horse

polo, with four elephants on either team.

 

Each carries an expert who " drives " the animal, leaving the player

to concentrate on the game.

 

But Advocates for Animals claimed the animals were often left with

open wounds after training, which it said involved elephants being

prodded with a sharp steel hook until they obeyed instructions.

 

In a letter to the Duke of Argyll - who is not taking part in this

year's tournament - the group's director Ross Minett said: " It is

hard to see any justification for using these magnificent animals in

this manner.

 

" Cruel training is used to make elephants perform unnatural

behaviours.

 

" Treating these wonderful animals with such a lack of respect only

encourages further exploitation. "

 

However, a spokesman for Chivas Brothers defended the company's

involvement in the event.

 

" Chivas Brothers would never sponsor any activity which would lead

to cruelty to animals and we are confident that the animals taking

part in the elephant polo championships are well treated and have

responsible owners, " he said.

 

" In addition, each elephant polo event we sponsor raises money for

charities for elephants or local communities where tournaments are

held. "

 

'Exploiting animals'

 

Mr Minett acknowledged that some elephant polo matches raised funds

for conservation projects.

 

However, he said: " The ends do not justify the means.

 

" There are other ways of raising such funds without exploiting

animals.

 

" Our views are supported by a wide range of Asian animal welfare and

conservation organisations. "

 

Belinda Wright, director of the Wildlife Protection Society of

India, said: " Instead of promoting respect for wild elephants and

sympathy for domestic ones, elephant polo merely promotes the idea

that elephants are amusing and controllable.

 

" We live in an enlightened age, where we should abandon practices

that are not morally justifiable. "

 

The Duke of Argyll refused to comment.