Elephant polo Update.

[Guest guest]

Dear Azam,

 

I have been reading all the mails on aapn reg. elephant polo and through one of

them found out, that next year some elephant polo match is supposed to take

plece in Sri Lanka, where I happen to live. I thought to myself, that I should

try to find out more about this in time, but still have no idea how. Today you

mentioned, that nobody from Sri Lanka has written anything... the reason for

this may be, that " animal people " in Sri Lanka are still a tiny family and all

overloaded with work and preoccupied with dogs and all may be as ignorant as me

about elephant polo being played in Sri Lanka. There is one person I could ask:

Penny Jayawardna from SPAR (Society for the Protection of Animalrights), she is

the only one I know, who has been looking into wild animal issues here, I will

try to call her tomorrow. However if anyone on this forum know something about

the polo plans in Sri Lanka next year, please let me know.

Actually in the town, where I live, a famous religious ceremony is taking place

every year, the Kandy Perahera, which is using and in my opinion abusing

elephants badly, but so far nobody ever raised a word about this event, except

one article by Ravi Jayawardana, Penny's husband, mentioned, that the sounds of

the drums used in these processions are far too loud for the elephants'

sensitive ears. But so far I could not find any person in Sri Lanka, who would

have the courage to protest against this very popular event or any other

procession using elephants in Sri Lanka, like the Gangarama Perahera in Colombo

and many smaller events of that sort, actually so far I met only very few

people, who could understand, why I am against these processions. aapn may be

one forum, through which I might be able to get relevant informations and might

get to know others in Sri Lanka, who would like to do something for the captured

elephants in Sri Lanka... elephant polo would be only one of many issues to be

addressed.

 

Anyhow, let me come back to your question, why nobody from Sri Lanka has been

participating oin the discussion about elephant polo. As far as aapn is

concerned, I don't know whether anyone in Sri Lanka besides me, is a member of

aapn, and the reason why I kept silence is: Christine Townend is the very

person, who inspired me to work for animals. When I read her mail posted by

John, and some clarifications posted by Naveen, I understood their point also,

particular what she mentioned about the 3 Rs in animal-welfare: Reduce - Refine

- Replace. If we can have the replace immediatrely, that's good, but usually we

have to go the long hard road... like oiur beloved elephants and all other

animals. I didn't want to come to a conclusion until meeting Christine in

Chennai and I think all of us will have a chance to listen to her there because

she will be one of the speakers on captive animals. However I very much

appreciate the amount of information you gathered and shared with all of us

during these last few weeks on elephants.

 

Thank you

 

Padma

 

 

 

-

azam24x7

aapn

Saturday, November 18, 2006 9:05 AM

Elephant polo Update.

 

 

I am told the security has been tightened outside the venue of that 'Cruel

Cartier Elephant Polo Cup` 2006'.

 

Fear is high amongst the organisers considering the fact that several

demos have been planned by many organsations in Jaipur today.

Photo identity cards have been issued to 'Help in Suffering' people and all

those who feel this to be a red letter day.

 

Much care is being taken to patch up the head injuries, the abcess and

other form of injuries on the 'Gentle Giants' with ornamental cloths and

other local jewellery ( not funded by Cartier though ), which shall be put to

use for that wretched sport.

There was a rehearsal yesterday without ankushes but then mahouts were

clearly seen poking and hitting the elephants with sticks ( should have

seemed humane ofcourse in the eyes of the animal welfare observers

present ).

 

The Campaign update:

 

17747 emails were sent to Cartier from the PETA action alert.

http://getactive.peta.org/campaign/elephant_polo?

qp_source=petaelephantpologen

 

Also many many more were sent from our US Youth site www.peta2.com.

 

339 hard hitting messages have been sent through the photo petition site :

Urge ' CARTIER Inc ' to withdraw sponsorship from 'Elephant Polo' in India.

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/857409235

 

'The Elephant Commentator'

http://groups.msn.com/TheElephantCommentator

a popular group on elephant welfare and rights moderated by Edward

Berry, has also had elephant experts submitting messages condemning this

elephant polo event. In fact it was Edward who in the initial stages of this

campaign expresses the need of having some write ups on the internet

specifically focusing on the negative aspects of elephant polo. This idea

was developed into reality through the wesbite: http://www.stopelephant

polo.com , formerly http://www.freewebs.com/elephantpolo

 

The website www.stopelephantpolo.com which was an amateur attempt of

just have a compilation of the ever increasing mails from eminent experts

worldwide specifically on this 'Cartier Elephant Polo Cup` 2006, has turned

out to be quite popular amongst the media/press who have been able to

educate themselves as far as reporting for this issue is concerned.

Many media reports have mentioned about the website, which goes to

show what a wonderful team we have to combat the abusers.

Simply would not have been possible without each and every person who

felt this issue worth of criticising.

 

Dr. John would be able to exactly say how many letters of protest AAPN

has seen so far.

It was on AAPN that posted that Financial Express news link

which was the advertisement to this circus like polo event.

What followed we all know.

 

I would like to take this opportunity and call on our friends in Thailand, Sri

Lanka and Nepal.

It is extremly sad that there have been almost no condemnation of this

event from organisations or individuals working for animal rights in those

countries.

I am sure 'elephant polo' is nothing different in those places.

Foreign fundings are essential but should never be compromised at the

cost of these 'Gentle Giants'.

Such a thing may have been happening in India for generations and so

what if it was a tradition, now that we have all come out to bring an end to

this, we have to carry this forward.

 

I do not know if, or when we can end this in future, but this is just the

begining, we have everyone with us....and together we hope to end this

someday soon if this pressure continues in not only India, but in THAILAND,

NEPAL and BANGLADESH too.

 

Once this ends the so called citizens and multinationals of " DEVELOPED

NATIONS " who simply enjoy " playing frivolous games on elephants " as

quoted on a website of Elephant Polo playing gang in the USA and

elsewhere can ask Cartier to fund them a trip to MARS and remain there

forever, there shall not be any room permitted for them on this planet.

 

Thank you everyone.

 

Rergards,

 

Azam Siddiqui