Elephant Family/Help In Suffering stance on Elephant Polo in Rajasthan

[Guest guest]

Dear all,

In response to Azam's message on Elephant Polo and the upcoming

festival in Rajasthan, a close friend of mine from Bangalore, who is

incidentally also a close friend of the Elephant Family team in London

contacted their office for their reaction. She forwarded the

attached messages to me for posting on AAPN with the permission of Elephant

Family. From the attached note, I am certainly very pleased to note Elephant

Family's stance that clearly says : " we certainly don't condone it. " (ie. the

use of elephants in entertainment for festivals).

 

And my thoughts are in consonance with Azam's when he says : " We must stay

united in a voice for our gentle giants. " My friend has been in touch with

Elephant Family closely recently and has invited me for a meeting this

weekend in Delhi to hear their version and stance on how they want to

help(and are helping) elephants in India and South East Asia(with special

reference to the Jaipur elephants). I have agreed and am looking forward to

the meeting.

 

As Barack Obama says, " To grasp an extended hand, you have to be willing

to unclench your fist. " It appears that after three long years of

campaigning, Elephant Family has finally extended a hand of friendship to

opponents of elephant polo. This is most commendable and should be

appreciated. This of course does not mean that the two parties change their

philosophical positions on animal welfare/rights overnight, but surely a

constructive dialogue to cooperate on issues of mutual interest is a much

better way to move forward than seeking a confrontation all the time. As I

have said time and time again on AAPN, I did not and do not have a problem

listening to people holding different beliefs. The proposed meeting on

Saturday is an opportunity for me to discuss the elephant entertainment

issue with someone close to Elephant Family. And for my part, I will do my

best to ensure that the discussion is carried out without any rancour or

malice. I am much relieved to note that Elephant Family is considering

talking to us and I thank them for this.

Best wishes and kind regards,

 

---------- Forwarded message ----------

Ruth Powys

Tue, Feb 24, 2009 at 6:04 PM

Re: AAPN message on Elephant Polo in Rajasthan

To:

 

Of course - sorry for the delay - I'm in the middle of another email to you!

 

Best wishes,

 

Ruth

 

Is it acceptable to circulate your messages? Can you kindly let me know.

Thanks.

------ Forwarded Message

**Edwina Kinsella-Bevan

**Tue, 24 Feb 2009 11:38:11 -0000

**Ruth Powys

**RE: AAPN message on Elephant Polo in Rajasthan

Dear Ruth,

 

Yes some of the elephants that are in Jaipur are involved with the festival,

as are elephants in other parts of India during their festivals - it is an

age old tradition and part of their heritage. Although we certainly don't

condone it all the elephants are privately owned so as an NGO we can not

prevent this. HIS/ef will however be on site to provide free veterinary if

an when needed.

 

Best wishes,

 

Edwina

 

 

*Edwina Kinsella-Bevan

*Project Manager

*elephant family

*http://www.elephantfamily.org <http://www.elephantfamily.org/> <

http://www.elephantfamily.org/> | 020 7580 3184 | 81 Gower Street, London,

WC1E 6HJ

A company limited by guarantee, registered in England No. 4310834,

registered charity No. 1091671

------------------------------

** Ruth Powys

*Sent:* 24 February 2009 10:01

*To:* Edwina Kinsella-Bevan

*Subject:* FW: AAPN message on Elephant Polo in Rajasthan

 

Dear Edwina,

 

Could you let me know if the Jaipur elephants have anything to do with the

festival?

 

Thanks so much,

 

 

Ruth x

 

*Ruth Powys

*Operational Director

*elephant family

**http://www.elephantfamily.org <http://www.elephantfamily.org/> *ý 020 7580

3184 ý 81 Gower Street, London, WC1E 6HJ

A company limited by guarantee, registered in England No. 4310834.

Registered charity No. 1091671

P Please consider the environment before printing this email

------ Forwarded Message

**Tue, 24 Feb 2009 12:25:59 +0530

**Ruth Powys

*Cc: *Mary Powys

**AAPN message on Elephant Polo in Rajasthan

 

I copied this message today exactly as it was posted.

 

Yet again the state of Rajasthan is out to organise 'Elephant

Festival' on 10th of March' 2009.

And as part of the festival, captive elephants would have to undergo a

series of circus like events which for some strange reason is NOT a

matter of concern to our animal protection agencies.

See links:

http://www.rajasthantravelguide.com/rajasthan_fair_festivals/elephant_festival.h\

tml

http://www.rajasthan-tourism.org/festivals-of-rajasthan/rajasthan-elephant-festi\

val.html

 

The events planned are gross violations of the laws that exist for

animal rights in India.

Also authorities, scientists and experts on elephants worldwide who

have spent a lifetime understanding and studying elephant behavior

have categorically explained the reasons as to why it is wrong to put

an elephant through such tasks.

Sadly, the authorities have ignored them all.

 

So we see here that, this would continue year after year. And if this

continues we cannot just sit and allow this to happen. We must stay

united in a voice for our gentle giants and continue with our protests

against this cruel mistreatment.

 

Let us ask the organisers of this abusive sport 'elephant polo' to

stop making fun of our gentle giants and treat them with respect.

 

Let us write to the ANIMAL WELFARE BOARD OF INDIA (AWBI) to take

cognizance of the offense and initiate necessary steps to block it.

The AWBI asked the state government of Assam (a state in Norhteastern

India) to drop events such as elephant races, elephant mock fights,

elephant tug of war and elephant football from the prestigious

Kaziranga Centenary Celebrations in the year 2005. Since then the

annual elephant festivals in Assam are held every year MINUS the

circus type events.

If this can happen in one state of India, why cannot it happen in the

others?

 

Apart from the game of polo, captive elephants in Jaipur would have to

take part in many notorious events such as an elephant race and a tug

of war between them and the silly human beings. And this they call

'SPECTACULAR'.

 

Contact Rajasthan State Government:

Shri Ashok Gehlot,

Hon'ble Chief Minister, Rajasthan

 

Please use the link below to post your concern:

http://www.rajasthan.gov.in/rajgovt/misc/reachthegovt.html

 

Also contact the AWBI in the following email ids:

 

" awbi " <awbi <http://awbi (AT) md3 (DOT) vsnl.net.in> >, " Secretary

AWBI " <secretary.awbi <http://secretary.awbi > >,

 

Let us hope that the NEW Chief Minister in the NEW Government of

Rajasthan brings a NEW change to this tragedy.

 

Thanks,

 

Azam Siddiqui

 

 

------ End of Forwarded Message

 

 

------ End of Forwarded Message

 

 

*Ruth Powys

*Operational Director

*elephant family

**http://www.elephantfamily.org* ý 020 7580 3184 ý 81 Gower Street, London,

WC1E 6HJ

A company limited by guarantee, registered in England No. 4310834.

Registered charity No. 1091671

P Please consider the environment before printing this email