Indian Prime Minister bans State gifts of wildlife

[Guest guest]

Indian Prime Minister bans State gifts of wildlife

 

 

 

In a surprise move, the Prime Minister of India, Mr Manmohan Singh

announced yesterday that all gifts of Indian wildlife to overseas countries

would in future be banned.

 

 

 

This move coincides with a high profile campaign conducted by the

international wildlife organisation, The Born Free Foundation, and Compassion

Unlimited Plus Action (CUPA) of India, to prevent the giving of a young female

Asian elephant from Bangalore, Southern India, to a zoo in Yeravan, the capital

of Armenia. The Telegraph of India announced today that this move by the PM was

a 'big victory for members of the Born Free Foundation'.

 

 

 

'This is the most welcome news I've heard in a long time' said Virginia

McKenna OBE, Founder of the Born Free Foundation. 'This brave step will

undoubtedly prevent the suffering of many animals, we just pray that this ban

will include Veda, the elephant who had been selected to fulfil a promise to

Armenia made several years ago'.

 

 

 

Born Free's Campaign’s Director Alison Hood, who has just travelled back

from Yerevan said. " Quite obviously the sub-zero temperatures, the small

enclosure and the lack of a suitable social environment, in our view, made this

gift totally inappropriate. In fact, we believe that the whole concept of

giving wild animals as diplomatic gifts should be abolished. As such, we

applaud this positive and forward looking decision by Prime Minister Manmohan

Singh which would prevent Indian wildlife being sent to totally unsuitable

circumstances in the future " .

 

 

 

Mr Sarosh Zaiwalla, a leading Indian businessman based in the UK and

Chairman of British Organisation Of People Of Indian Origin has also been

outspoken in his criticism of the proposed move. " I am delighted by such an

enlightened response and I hope that this will send a wider message around the

world to other leaders so that they will follow this excellent example.

Personally, I am committed to the long-term conservation and protection of wild

animals in their country of origin and preferably in their natural habitat.

This decision supports such an agenda. "

 

 

 

Speaking at today's press conference held at the Cavendish Hotel, London,

Virginia McKenna, known for her starring role in the wildlife classic Born Free

(1964) said, " India has a well-deserved reputation when it comes to its efforts

to protect and conserve its wildlife despite the many challenges that the

country and its people face. For Veda, a move to Armenia would, I am sure, have

meant a premature death. We are waiting for clarification from the Prime

Minister's office that he will include Veda in this ban and permit her to stay

with her mother and others from her family and I hope that she will be allowed

to live as near a natural life as possible - certainly a life worth living. "

 

 

 

The Born Free Foundation campaigns on behalf of wild animals in need

around the world both in captivity and in the wild. The Foundation marks its

21st Anniversary this week and has also launched " 21 ways to help " , details of

which can be found on its website.

 

 

 

For more details, please contact Shirley Galligan PR Director, Born Free

Foundation on 07773 848 352 or Alison Hood, Campaigns Director at

alison or on 01403 240170 or 07771 895706.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

 It is a very good move all animal welfare persons Should welcome this step of

Dr.Manmohan Singh,Indian Prime Minister.He has shown a keen intrest in wildlife

especially vanishing Tigers from Rajsthan Wildlife Park in sarsikka.

He has planned to check offences against wildlife and has announced to setup

atask Force to tackle this.

we also look forward a strong action against the State Governments ignoring

intrests of wildlife.

 

Best wishes,

Dr.sandeep K.Jain

 

 

On Mon, 21 Mar 2005 Weintraub wrote :

>

>

>

>

>

> Indian Prime Minister bans State gifts of wildlife

>

>

>

> In a surprise move, the Prime Minister of India, Mr Manmohan Singh

announced yesterday that all gifts of Indian wildlife to overseas countries

would in future be banned.

>

>

>

> This move coincides with a high profile campaign conducted by the

international wildlife organisation, The Born Free Foundation, and Compassion

Unlimited Plus Action (CUPA) of India, to prevent the giving of a young female

Asian elephant from Bangalore, Southern India, to a zoo in Yeravan, the capital

of Armenia. The Telegraph of India announced today that this move by the PM was

a 'big victory for members of the Born Free Foundation'.

>

>

>

> 'This is the most welcome news I've heard in a long time' said Virginia

McKenna OBE, Founder of the Born Free Foundation. 'This brave step will

undoubtedly prevent the suffering of many animals, we just pray that this ban

will include Veda, the elephant who had been selected to fulfil a promise to

Armenia made several years ago'.

>

>

>

> Born Free's Campaign’s Director Alison Hood, who has just travelled back

from Yerevan said. " Quite obviously the sub-zero temperatures, the small

enclosure and the lack of a suitable social environment, in our view, made this

gift totally inappropriate. In fact, we believe that the whole concept of

giving wild animals as diplomatic gifts should be abolished. As such, we

applaud this positive and forward looking decision by Prime Minister Manmohan

Singh which would prevent Indian wildlife being sent to totally unsuitable

circumstances in the future " .

>

>

>

> Mr Sarosh Zaiwalla, a leading Indian businessman based in the UK and

Chairman of British Organisation Of People Of Indian Origin has also been

outspoken in his criticism of the proposed move. " I am delighted by such an

enlightened response and I hope that this will send a wider message around the

world to other leaders so that they will follow this excellent example.

Personally, I am committed to the long-term conservation and protection of wild

animals in their country of origin and preferably in their natural habitat.

This decision supports such an agenda. "

>

>

>

> Speaking at today's press conference held at the Cavendish Hotel,

London, Virginia McKenna, known for her starring role in the wildlife classic

Born Free (1964) said, " India has a well-deserved reputation when it comes to

its efforts to protect and conserve its wildlife despite the many challenges

that the country and its people face. For Veda, a move to Armenia would, I am

sure, have meant a premature death. We are waiting for clarification from the

Prime Minister's office that he will include Veda in this ban and permit her to

stay with her mother and others from her family and I hope that she will be

allowed to live as near a natural life as possible - certainly a life worth

living. "

>

>

>

> The Born Free Foundation campaigns on behalf of wild animals in need

around the world both in captivity and in the wild. The Foundation marks its

21st Anniversary this week and has also launched " 21 ways to help " , details of

which can be found on its website.

>

>

>

> For more details, please contact Shirley Galligan PR Director, Born Free

Foundation on 07773 848 352 or Alison Hood, Campaigns Director at

alison or on 01403 240170 or 07771 895706.

>

>

>

>

>

>