Dr. Dame Daphne Sheldrick on Rajasthan Elephant Polo

[Guest guest]

Dr. Dame Daphne Sheldrick's message to the organisers and the AWBI on the

proposed elephant polo event in Rajasthan:

 

 

 

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