Fwd: CALLS FOR SCOTLAND TO END INVOLVEMENT IN ELEPHANT POLO

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Ross Minett <ross

Wed, Apr 2, 2008 at 8:51 PM

CALLS FOR SCOTLAND TO END INVOLVEMENT IN ELEPHANT POLO

stopelephantpolo

 

 

*NEWS RELEASE*

 

Wednesday 2 April 2008

 

*CALLS FOR SCOTLAND TO END INVOLVEMENT IN ELEPHANT POLO*

 

*CHIVAS REGAL URGED TO WITHDRAW SPONSORSHIP AS NEW PHOTOGRAPH SHOWS USE OF

CRUEL METAL BULLHOOK*

 

Advocates for Animals has today renewed its call for an end to Scottish

involvement in the 'sport' of elephant polo, following a photograph in

today's national press showing a cruel metal bullhook being used on an

elephant ridden by a member of the Chivas Regal Scotland team. The team is

competing in the current King's Cup Elephant Polo Tournament in Thailand.

The animal protection organisation is asking the Scottish team's sponsor,

Chivas Brothers to end its association with elephant polo.

 

Elephant polo causes both animal welfare and conservation concerns, a view

that has strong support among the Asian animal welfare and conservation

community1. Advocates for Animals believes that forcing elephants to 'play

polo' is totally unnatural and contrary to their nature. They are trained

using a bullhook or *ankush*, a sharp steel hook that is used to prod their

heads to get them to obey instructions. These hooks can cause open wounds

which can become infected and cause pain and discomfort.

 

In a letter to Advocates for Animals in December 2007, Chivas Brothers

claimed that " . Chivas Brothers would never sponsor any activity that led to

cruelty to animals.. " The letter continues: " Metal hooks are NOT used and

are forbidden by World Elephant Polo Association rules " . Advocates is

calling on Chivas Regal to be consistent in its attitude to animal cruelty.

 

Advocates for Animals' Campaigns Director, Ross Minett, said: *There is

surely no* *justification for using these highly intelligent and sentient

animals in this so-called 'sport'. Treating these magnificent animals with

such a lack of respect only encourages further exploitation.*

 

*We have sent Chivas Brothers a copy of a photograph of an elephant having a

cruel bullhook used on it whilst being ridden by a member of the Chivas

Regal Scotland Team. We have urged this company to withdraw its financial

support for this outdated spectacle which should have no place in the

21stcentury. Scotland's involvement brings international shame upon

our country "

*

 

- ENDS –

 

 

 

*Notes to Editors*

 

 

 

For interviews or further information contact Advocates for Animals'

Campaigns Director, Ross Minett on 0131 2256039 or 07946 517585.

 

 

 

1 Elephant Polo is also opposed by a large number of international and

Asian animal welfare organisations including the World Society for the

Protection of Animals, the Born Free Foundation, International Animal

Rescue, the Captive Animals Protection Society, People for the Ethical

Treatment of Animals, The Wildlife Protection Society of India, Asian Animal

Protection Network, People for Animals India, Animals Asia Foundation, Blue

Cross of India, ACT Asia for Animals, Compassionate Crusaders Trust and

Animal Nepal.

 

According to the Wildlife Protection Society of India (WPSI), while it is

true that elephants have been domesticated in India for centuries, elephants

do not breed well in captivity and every single generation of these

'domestic' animals has been augmented with captures from the wild. After the

intense trauma that a young calf undergoes at being forcibly separated from

its mother and herd, it is put through a brutal training process to make it

submit to human commands. Although the practice of wild captures has

recently been banned, it continues illegally. Belinda Wright, OBE, Executive of WPSI, added: " *To use any wild animal - and in particular these

intelligent, sensitive giants - for sport and entertainment is demeaning and

inappropriate. 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. And as a multinational

company, surely it is up to Chivas Regal to set an example of responsible

corporate behavior? " *

 

Dr Dame Daphne Sheldrick DBE, MBE, MBS, DVMS, 1992 ENEP Global 500 Laureate,

one of the world's authorities on elephants, with which she has worked for

50 years, said: * " I believe that it is cruel to force elephants to play

polo. No one who knows elephants intimately will endorse using these highly

sophisticated and intelligent animals for frivolous fundraising or

entertainment purposes as an Elephant Polo Match, or endorse the way in

which most Indian elephants are brutally and cruelly trained, breaking their

spirit and making them too fearful to be disobedient for fear of reprisal.

It is my professional opinion that the use of elephants for polo should be

banned in this, the third millennium, when so much more is known about these

animals. " *

 

John Wedderburn of the Asian Animal Protection Network adds: * " Money should

certainly be raised for elephants but not by exploitation of them. Some of

the money raised can be used for assisting the wretched animals already

living under human abuse but most of it should go to conserving the

elephants' natural habitats. We would suggest to the Duke of Argyll and

Chivas Regal Whisky that a much better use of their time and money would be

in supporting genuine conservation efforts. " *

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Advocates for Animals

10 Queensferry Street, Edinburgh, EH2 4PG, Scotland, UK

Tel: +44 (0) 131 225 6039

Fax: +44 (0) 131 220 6377

www.advocatesforanimals.org

 

*WORK WITH ADVOCATES TO BAN CRUEL SNARES IN SCOTLAND*

 

*Please support Advocates for Animals, League Against Cruel Sports,

Hessilhead Wildlife Rescue Trust, Hare Preservation Trust, International

Otter Survival Fund and Scottish Badgers' campaign for a ban on snares in

Scotland at: *

 

*www.bansnares.com*

 

 

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United against elephant polo

http://www.stopelephantpolo.com