The World condemns Elephant Polo, Please join in.

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Please join in, send as many letters as you can. We need as many voices as

possible.

 

Please remember your voice is the best way this can be stopped someday.

 

Azam.

 

ANIMALS ASIA FOUNDATION, HONG KONG WRITES TO RAJASTHAN GOVERNMENT AND AWBI:

 

Shri Ashok Gehlot,

 

Honourable Chief Minister

 

Rajasthan State Government

 

Rajasthan

 

India

 

26 February 2009

 

Dear Sir,

 

My name is Mark Jones, I am a veterinarian from the UK, and I am the animal

welfare director at Animals Asia Foundation, a Hong Kong based NGO dedicated

to improving the lives of all animals in Asia, end cruelty and restore

respect for animals Asia-wide

 

On behalf of Animals Asia Foundation, I would like to express our concern

over the continued abuse of elephants used in festivals in India, in

particular the forthcoming " Elephant Festival " scheduled for March 10th in

Jaipur. According to the Rajasthan Travel Guide, heavily decorated elephants

at the festival will be paraded in a " catwalk " format, be required to run

races, compete in a " tug of war " with people, and play polo, among other

activities. The Rajasthan Travel Guide suggests that the festival has been

" devised especially with the tourist in mind " (see http://www.

rajasthantravelguide.com/rajasthan_fair_festivals/elephant_festival.html).

 

Forcing these majestic animals to perform the kinds of degrading acts

referred to in the travel guide represents not only a degradation of

everything these magnificent animals represent, but also a violation of

India's animal rights legislation. Such activities, far from celebrating and

revering the role of elephants in India's society and ecosystem, only serve

to reduce this iconic animal to no more than a cheap circus act, and are

designed purely to generate revenue from tourists.

 

We understand that in 2005 the Animal Welfare Board of India successfully

dissuaded the Assam State Government from forcing festival elephants to

perform such events as races, fights, tug of wars, and football, since when

festivals celebrating elephants have continued successfully in Assam without

resorting to these kinds of activities. We urge you to follow the lead of

Assam and remove these events from festivals held in Rajasthan.

 

Sincerely,

 

 

 

Mark Jones

 

*Mark Jones BVSc MSc(Stir) MSc(London) MRCVS, Veterinarian*

 

Animal Welfare Director

 

Animals Asia Foundation

 

Hong Kong

 

Tel: (852) 2791 2225

 

Fax: (852) 2791 2320

 

Email: *mjones* <mjones

 

Web: *www.animalsasia.org* <http://www.animalsasia.org/>

 

Copy to: Animal Welfare Board of India

 

Azam Siddiqui

 

_______

 

MESSAGE FROM CORNWALL'S VOICE FOR ANIMALS, UK:

 

 

*Think of us ....*

We are large and heavy and our feet are sore

We are part of a game with a tiny ball

There are long sticks and shouting,

We don't know the score,

We don't understand but we must go forth.

There is cheering and clapping,

We don't make a sound,

We tire very easily Thudding the ground,

Can you guess what we are ?

Can you guess what we do ?

We are elephants, elephants

Playing Polo for you .......

 

Maria Daines www.maria-daines.com

 

 

( This poem was composed by Maria Daines in defense of the elephants made to

perform in this so called 'sport'. Maria is British singer and Patron of

Cornwall's Voice For Animals. )

 

When you have read a letter from the best authority, there is nothing I can

say or do, to add to it !

 

Hopefully we are not very far from the day when 'elephant polo' shall be

eradicated from the society, not only in India or Asian countries but across

the globe.

 

I stand proudly beside those who wish to sensitize the masses and bring the

lost *glory back to the elephants* and *restore their rights*.

 

On behalf of Cornwalls Voice for Animals nearly 6000 supporters world wide,

we say NO to ELEPHANT POLO !

 

I draw your attention the letter below written by Dr Daphne Sheldrick and

request you take it to heart.

 

Thank you

 

Mary Alice Pollard

 

 

 

Mary Alice Pollard, CVFA

 

3 The Square

 

Gerrans, Portscatho

 

Cornwall, TR2 5GA UK

 

_____________

 

Letter of protest from Dr. Daphne Sheldrick dated: February 26, 2009 :

 

I have worked with elephants for over 50 years of my life, and am regarded

world-wide as an authority on these animals, having reared from early

infancy over 95 of their orphaned young, watched these orphans heal, grow

into adulthood, and eventually return to where they rightly belong, in a

Protected Area large enough to offer them the space an elephant needs for

quality of life in wild terms. Thereafter, the human " family " that

replaced the orphans' lost elephant one, and who reared them only with

compassion, care and kindness and therefore remain trusted and loved, have

been rewarded when their erstwhile charges choose to bring back their

wild-born young to show their human Carers. Details of my work can be

viewed on www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org

 

As someone who has always respected India's compassion for animals, it seems

inconceivable that the authorities still condone Elephant Polo, and allow

the organizers of such events to fool the world that Indian captive

Elephants actually enjoy being forced to take part in such activities,

despite hard evidence to the contrary. As I am sure you know, not long ago

a Polo Playing Elephant in Sri Lanka went berserk, injuring people and

causing damage to a vehicle. Such anger can hardly signify enjoyment. It

signifies a revolt against cruelty and abuse, and it is now time that all

caring people also revolted against such cruelty and abuse, especially in

this, the 21st Century, when so much more is known about the sophistication

and very human traits of Elephants.

 

Elephants are not designed to play polo and nor should they. All who

support this cruel activity contribute to un-necessary suffering of animals

that have already suffered enormously from the brutal training techniques

they endure which no sane person can call humane. I speak with authority

about what elephants like and dislike, for I know them probably better than

most, having observed them daily for over 50 years through newborn into

adulthood as well as studying their wild kin in the wild situation. My

late husband being the founder of Warden of Kenya's Tsavo National Park

which harbours Kenya's largest single wild elephant population and we lived

there for 30 years)

 

As the authority in Rajasthan, I do hope that you will urge the organizers

of Elephant Polo to abandon their plans to host yet another barbaric event

in March this year, which will certainly impact negatively on the record of

India as a caring and Animal Loving Nation.

 

 

Dr. Dame Daphne Sheldrick, DBE MBE MBS DVMS

 

UNEP 1992 Global Laureate

 

2000 BBC Lifetime Achievement Award

 

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http://www.stopelephantpolo.com

http://www.freewebs.com/azamsiddiqui