Dear Sir,
On behalf of the International Organization for Animal Protection - OIPA INDIA & PFA Haryana, 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.
It would be pertinent to mention here that undersigned moved a public interest litigation (PIL) in the High Court at Jaipur - http://elephantpolo-kadyan.blogspot.com/, few Elephants were found in illegal captivity & State Govt. failed to rescue these Elephants till date.

Sincerely,
Naresh Kadyan,
OIPA - http://www.oipa.org
Representative for INDIA,
- http://www.oipa.org/oipa/news/oipaindia.html
- http://www.oipa.org/oipaindia.html
- http://www.oipa.org/OIPA%20INDIA/hunting.html
- http://www.pfaharyana.in
- http://nareshkadyan.blogspot.com/
- http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/01/420777.html
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