ALTERNATIVE ELEPHANT POLO EVENT FINALLY HELD AND SHOWN TO BE HUMANE

[Guest guest]

ALTERNATIVE ELEPHANT POLO EVENT FINALLY HELD AND SHOWN TO BE HUMANE

 

 

A number of groups objected to the practice of Alternative Elephant

Polo, a slow and ambling game in which elephants walk across a soft

field in cool of evening, in the winter months, under command of

bare feet and voice only. One can only suspect that the people who

posted a website and requested various groups to write in opposition

to this AEP, had no idea about the conditions of captive elephants

in Jaipur, who desperately need enrichment in their lives, rather

than being chained in boredom all day.

 

 

We believe that these groups confused the fact that Cartier was

sponsoring the event, with the fact that captive elephants need

enrichment in their lives. We believe the two issues became muddled

by fuzzy thinking.

 

 

For example, PETA claimed that the AEP should not take place because

the elephants in Jaipur lived in terrible conditions. This is

exactly why Help in Suffering believes the AEP should be encouraged,

so that these elephants have enrichment in their lives.

 

 

A certain group also claimed that they had done an 'undercover'

investigation and found that the ankush was still being used by some

mahouts in Jaipur. But this statement actually supports the argument

that AEP is needed, not the contrary. In the run-up to the AEP, the

Rajasthan Government and private Elephant Polo organisers stopped

using the ankush when they discovered it was possible to interact

with elephants without cruelty. This would not have happened if it

had not been a high-profile event. In any case this is an irrelevant

piece of information because Help in Suffering had already made it

clear in their statement that the use of the ankush had been banned,

and eighty percent of mahouts were now not using the ankush. In

other words, it takes time to implement reforms. It won't all happen

in a minute.

 

 

In a photo circulated to the media (see photo below) the caption

read:

 

 

Elephant with marks from a steel hook showing on its truck and

belly (Photo courtesy PETA-India)

 

 

This is in fact completely fallacious information. We know this

elephant (Gulabi, microchip No. 0006593C2B) well and the marks on

the belly are patches of depigmentation due to a skin disease the

elephant had long ago. Indeed, we twice saved her life, when she was

suffering from a urinary tract infection.

 

 

The AEP was endorsed by the Animal Welfare Board of India and the

Forest Department of Rajasthan, and we were honoured that the

Chairman of the AWBI, Major General Kharb and his wife, attended the

event along with many other dignitaries who deeply care about the

miserable conditions under which the Jaipur elephants live at

present, and who want to see their lives improved and enriched.

 

 

The protestors, whilst opposing the AEP, offered no solution, no

funds, and no suggestions as to where the captive elephants of

Jaipur can go, if they are not allowed to work and to exercise.

There were some vague murmurings made about a 'homeland' but do

those who object understand that a captive elephant cannot be

returned to the wild? Huge tracts of land would need to be purchased

or set aside by the Government of Rajasthan, and crores of rupees

would be needed on a continuous basis to run the facility. HIS is

working on this with the Rajasthan Government but it will take time.

In the meantime will the elephants stand chained, with the owners'

families and the elephants hungry and frustrated?

 

 

There were many groups and individuals who wrote to HIS privately,

supporting the AEP, but who did not wish to enter into a loud debate

on AAPN.

 

 

Ultimately, the question stands: Do I truly love elephants? If so,

will I place first in order of importance the needs of the captive

elephants who suffer so much, or will I think of my own political

correctness and oppose 'on principle' a corporate sponsored event?

 

 

Dr. Madhu Valliayatte

Dr. Khyne U Mar

 

 

 

 

Prof. Jacob Cheeran wrote:

 

 

Dear Ms Townend,

 

 

Yes will be my short reply for that. It will not be a competitive

sport

neither for the elephants nor for the riders. It will be rather an

exhibition sport played leisurely

 

 

Best Regards,

 

 

Prof. Dr. Jacob V. Cheeran

 

- Technical Services

Cheerans Lab (P) Limited

Animal Health Division

New Church Street

Trichur - 680 001

Kerala, India

 

 

Email: jacob

Mobile: +91 98460 30518

Fax: +91 487 2421508

_____

Search anything on Veterinary, Pet Care, Wildlife...

and everything else you ever wanted !

http://www.cheerans.com/search

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

-

" Christine Townend " <cjt

<jacob

Wednesday, November 15, 2006 2:02 PM

Alternative Elephant Polo - is it cruel?

 

 

 

 

Dear Prof. Cheeran,

 

 

Many thanks for giving me time to talk with you this morning about

the controversy surrounding the Cartier Alternative Elephant Polo

event which is planned to be held in Jaipur on 18th November. I was

grateful for your sane and balanced scientific approach.

 

 

As I note from you, some forms of elephant polo may be acceptable

whilst others would not. The elephant is not as flexible as a horse,

and therefore should not be forced to run and swing or turn round

suddenly at a fast speed, forced to do this by ankush. However, it

would be acceptable, within the physiological standards of elephant

movement, and not an act of cruelty, if the elephant was ambling or

moving slowly when it asked to turn, so long as it was not jerked

suddenly and quickly, and so long as these were foot and word

commands only, without any use of ankush or any other pointed or

blunt instrument.

 

 

I would be grateful if you could confirm whether I have understood

this correctly from our phone conversation this morning.

 

 

With best wishes,

Christine.

[Guest guest]

 

it has been found that Many individuals and even State Govt. has knowingly

flouted the Rules and making one or other excuses,as it has become difficult for

them to be identified as Animal Welfare Group.

SKJ

 

On Fri, 24 Nov 2006 drmadhu_vet9 wrote :

>ALTERNATIVE ELEPHANT POLO EVENT FINALLY HELD AND SHOWN TO BE HUMANE

>

>

>A number of groups objected to the practice of Alternative Elephant

>Polo, a slow and ambling game in which elephants walk across a soft

>field in cool of evening, in the winter months, under command of

>bare feet and voice only. One can only suspect that the people who

>posted a website and requested various groups to write in opposition

>to this AEP, had no idea about the conditions of captive elephants

>in Jaipur, who desperately need enrichment in their lives, rather

>than being chained in boredom all day.

>

>

>We believe that these groups confused the fact that Cartier was

>sponsoring the event, with the fact that captive elephants need

>enrichment in their lives. We believe the two issues became muddled

>by fuzzy thinking.

>

>

>For example, PETA claimed that the AEP should not take place because

>the elephants in Jaipur lived in terrible conditions. This is

>exactly why Help in Suffering believes the AEP should be encouraged,

>so that these elephants have enrichment in their lives.

>

>

>A certain group also claimed that they had done an 'undercover'

>investigation and found that the ankush was still being used by some

>mahouts in Jaipur. But this statement actually supports the argument

>that AEP is needed, not the contrary. In the run-up to the AEP, the

>Rajasthan Government and private Elephant Polo organisers stopped

>using the ankush when they discovered it was possible to interact

>with elephants without cruelty. This would not have happened if it

>had not been a high-profile event. In any case this is an irrelevant

>piece of information because Help in Suffering had already made it

>clear in their statement that the use of the ankush had been banned,

>and eighty percent of mahouts were now not using the ankush. In

>other words, it takes time to implement reforms. It won't all happen

>in a minute.

>

>

>In a photo circulated to the media (see photo below) the caption

>read:

>

>

>Elephant with marks from a steel hook showing on its truck and

>belly (Photo courtesy PETA-India)

>

>

>This is in fact completely fallacious information. We know this

>elephant (Gulabi, microchip No. 0006593C2B) well and the marks on

>the belly are patches of depigmentation due to a skin disease the

>elephant had long ago. Indeed, we twice saved her life, when she was

>suffering from a urinary tract infection.

>

>

>The AEP was endorsed by the Animal Welfare Board of India and the

>Forest Department of Rajasthan, and we were honoured that the

>Chairman of the AWBI, Major General Kharb and his wife, attended the

>event along with many other dignitaries who deeply care about the

>miserable conditions under which the Jaipur elephants live at

>present, and who want to see their lives improved and enriched.

>

>

>The protestors, whilst opposing the AEP, offered no solution, no

>funds, and no suggestions as to where the captive elephants of

>Jaipur can go, if they are not allowed to work and to exercise.

>There were some vague murmurings made about a 'homeland' but do

>those who object understand that a captive elephant cannot be

>returned to the wild? Huge tracts of land would need to be purchased

>or set aside by the Government of Rajasthan, and crores of rupees

>would be needed on a continuous basis to run the facility. HIS is

>working on this with the Rajasthan Government but it will take time.

>In the meantime will the elephants stand chained, with the owners'

>families and the elephants hungry and frustrated?

>

>

>There were many groups and individuals who wrote to HIS privately,

>supporting the AEP, but who did not wish to enter into a loud debate

>on AAPN.

>

>

>Ultimately, the question stands: Do I truly love elephants? If so,

>will I place first in order of importance the needs of the captive

>elephants who suffer so much, or will I think of my own political

>correctness and oppose 'on principle' a corporate sponsored event?

>

>

>Dr. Madhu Valliayatte

>Dr. Khyne U Mar

>

>

>

>

>Prof. Jacob Cheeran wrote:

>

>

>Dear Ms Townend,

>

>

>Yes will be my short reply for that. It will not be a competitive

>sport

>neither for the elephants nor for the riders. It will be rather an

>exhibition sport played leisurely

>

>

>Best Regards,

>

>

>Prof. Dr. Jacob V. Cheeran

>

>

>Director - Technical Services

>Cheerans Lab (P) Limited

>Animal Health Division

>New Church Street

>Trichur - 680 001

>Kerala, India

>

>

>Email: jacob

>Mobile: +91 98460 30518

>Fax: +91 487 2421508

>_____

>Search anything on Veterinary, Pet Care, Wildlife...

>and everything else you ever wanted !

>http://www.cheerans.com/search

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>-

> " Christine Townend " <cjt

><jacob

>Wednesday, November 15, 2006 2:02 PM

>Alternative Elephant Polo - is it cruel?

>

>

>

>

>Dear Prof. Cheeran,

>

>

>Many thanks for giving me time to talk with you this morning about

>the controversy surrounding the Cartier Alternative Elephant Polo

>event which is planned to be held in Jaipur on 18th November. I was

>grateful for your sane and balanced scientific approach.

>

>

>As I note from you, some forms of elephant polo may be acceptable

>whilst others would not. The elephant is not as flexible as a horse,

>and therefore should not be forced to run and swing or turn round

>suddenly at a fast speed, forced to do this by ankush. However, it

>would be acceptable, within the physiological standards of elephant

>movement, and not an act of cruelty, if the elephant was ambling or

>moving slowly when it asked to turn, so long as it was not jerked

>suddenly and quickly, and so long as these were foot and word

>commands only, without any use of ankush or any other pointed or

>blunt instrument.

>

>

>I would be grateful if you could confirm whether I have understood

>this correctly from our phone conversation this morning.

>

>

>With best wishes,

>Christine.

>

>

>

>

>

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Dear Dr. Madhu,

 

I think it would be fair for me to allow other organisations and

individuals who objected to this event to respond to your letter. I

am not sure how many of them to AAPN

 

However just to remind you that if you personally would like to get

in touch with them then you have to visit this website and their

email addresses: www.stopelephantpolo.com

 

Dr. Madhu, I am just an ordinary animal rights activist and not an

authority on elephants.

I have just spent barely 12 years advocating animal rights in India.

I am a Master Trainer of the Animal Welfare Board of India for just

past five years.

I have completed 'Orphaned Elephant Management' from the David

Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, under the supervision of Dame Daphne

Sheldrick, where I played surrogate mother to orphaned ellies.

 

Having said that, I still feel I am not qualified enough to argue

with you.

 

But I can assure you were a part of something which was wrong !

 

Regards,

 

Azam Siddiqui

 

 

 

aapn , " drmadhu_vet9 " <drmadhuvet wrote:

>

> ALTERNATIVE ELEPHANT POLO EVENT FINALLY HELD AND SHOWN TO BE HUMANE

>

>

> A number of groups objected to the practice of Alternative

Elephant

> Polo, a slow and ambling game in which elephants walk across a

soft

> field in cool of evening, in the winter months, under command of

> bare feet and voice only. One can only suspect that the people who

> posted a website and requested various groups to write in

opposition

> to this AEP, had no idea about the conditions of captive elephants

> in Jaipur, who desperately need enrichment in their lives, rather

> than being chained in boredom all day.

>

>

> We believe that these groups confused the fact that Cartier was

> sponsoring the event, with the fact that captive elephants need

> enrichment in their lives. We believe the two issues became

muddled

> by fuzzy thinking.

>

>

> For example, PETA claimed that the AEP should not take place

because

> the elephants in Jaipur lived in terrible conditions. This is

> exactly why Help in Suffering believes the AEP should be

encouraged,

> so that these elephants have enrichment in their lives.

>

>

> A certain group also claimed that they had done an 'undercover'

> investigation and found that the ankush was still being used by

some

> mahouts in Jaipur. But this statement actually supports the

argument

> that AEP is needed, not the contrary. In the run-up to the AEP,

the

> Rajasthan Government and private Elephant Polo organisers stopped

> using the ankush when they discovered it was possible to interact

> with elephants without cruelty. This would not have happened if it

> had not been a high-profile event. In any case this is an

irrelevant

> piece of information because Help in Suffering had already made it

> clear in their statement that the use of the ankush had been

banned,

> and eighty percent of mahouts were now not using the ankush. In

> other words, it takes time to implement reforms. It won't all

happen

> in a minute.

>

>

> In a photo circulated to the media (see photo below) the caption

> read:

>

>

> Elephant with marks from a steel hook showing on its truck and

> belly (Photo courtesy PETA-India)

>

>

> This is in fact completely fallacious information. We know this

> elephant (Gulabi, microchip No. 0006593C2B) well and the marks on

> the belly are patches of depigmentation due to a skin disease the

> elephant had long ago. Indeed, we twice saved her life, when she

was

> suffering from a urinary tract infection.

>

>

> The AEP was endorsed by the Animal Welfare Board of India and the

> Forest Department of Rajasthan, and we were honoured that the

> Chairman of the AWBI, Major General Kharb and his wife, attended

the

> event along with many other dignitaries who deeply care about the

> miserable conditions under which the Jaipur elephants live at

> present, and who want to see their lives improved and enriched.

>

>

> The protestors, whilst opposing the AEP, offered no solution, no

> funds, and no suggestions as to where the captive elephants of

> Jaipur can go, if they are not allowed to work and to exercise.

> There were some vague murmurings made about a 'homeland' but do

> those who object understand that a captive elephant cannot be

> returned to the wild? Huge tracts of land would need to be

purchased

> or set aside by the Government of Rajasthan, and crores of rupees

> would be needed on a continuous basis to run the facility. HIS is

> working on this with the Rajasthan Government but it will take

time.

> In the meantime will the elephants stand chained, with the owners'

> families and the elephants hungry and frustrated?

>

>

> There were many groups and individuals who wrote to HIS privately,

> supporting the AEP, but who did not wish to enter into a loud

debate

> on AAPN.

>

>

> Ultimately, the question stands: Do I truly love elephants? If so,

> will I place first in order of importance the needs of the captive

> elephants who suffer so much, or will I think of my own political

> correctness and oppose 'on principle' a corporate sponsored event?

>

>

> Dr. Madhu Valliayatte

> Dr. Khyne U Mar

>

>

>

>

> Prof. Jacob Cheeran wrote:

>

>

> Dear Ms Townend,

>

>

> Yes will be my short reply for that. It will not be a competitive

> sport

> neither for the elephants nor for the riders. It will be rather an

> exhibition sport played leisurely

>

>

> Best Regards,

>

>

> Prof. Dr. Jacob V. Cheeran

>

- Technical Services

> Cheerans Lab (P) Limited

> Animal Health Division

> New Church Street

> Trichur - 680 001

> Kerala, India

>

>

> Email: jacob

> Mobile: +91 98460 30518

> Fax: +91 487 2421508

> _____

> Search anything on Veterinary, Pet Care, Wildlife...

> and everything else you ever wanted !

> http://www.cheerans.com/search

>

>

>

>

-

> " Christine Townend " <cjt

> <jacob

> Wednesday, November 15, 2006 2:02 PM

> Alternative Elephant Polo - is it cruel?

>

>

>

>

> Dear Prof. Cheeran,

>

>

> Many thanks for giving me time to talk with you this morning about

> the controversy surrounding the Cartier Alternative Elephant Polo

> event which is planned to be held in Jaipur on 18th November. I was

> grateful for your sane and balanced scientific approach.

>

>

> As I note from you, some forms of elephant polo may be acceptable

> whilst others would not. The elephant is not as flexible as a

horse,

> and therefore should not be forced to run and swing or turn round

> suddenly at a fast speed, forced to do this by ankush. However, it

> would be acceptable, within the physiological standards of elephant

> movement, and not an act of cruelty, if the elephant was ambling or

> moving slowly when it asked to turn, so long as it was not jerked

> suddenly and quickly, and so long as these were foot and word

> commands only, without any use of ankush or any other pointed or

> blunt instrument.

>

>

> I would be grateful if you could confirm whether I have understood

> this correctly from our phone conversation this morning.

>

>

> With best wishes,

> Christine.

>