PM’s decision not to send Veda to Armenia hailed

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London, May 01: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's

reported decision not to send Veda, a six-year-old

female elephant from Bannerghatta National Park near

Bangalore, to an Armenian zoo has been hailed by

UK-based born free foundation, saying India was

leading the way for other nations to follow.

 

" We are absolutely delighted that Dr Singh has made

this compassionate decision to keep Veda in

Bannerghatta where she belongs, " said Virginia

McKenna, founder of the Born Free Foundation, an NGO

working for animal welfare, and star of the film Born

Free.

 

" There is no doubt in my mind that the suffering Veda

would have had to endure through being uprooted from

her family would have been immense. I would like to

thank all those that have offered us their support in

this campaign " , she said.

 

McKenna said " India is leading the way for other

nations to follow " and added " we truly hope that the

use of animals as diplomatic gifts will soon become a

thing of the past, and would like to strongly

encourage other countries to follow India's example. "

 

Earlier, when it was announced that Veda was to be

sent to Armenia to join the only male elephant in

Yerevan zoo there, animal rights activists opposed it

pointing at the conditions in the Armenian zoo.

 

Alison Hood, head of campaigns for Born Free

Foundation recently visited the Yerevan zoo in

Armenia.

 

" The conditions at the zoo are clearly inappropriate

for elephants, " said hood. " Yerevan suffers severe

winters, with temperatures often falling below

freezing (point), in stark contrast to the conditions

Veda currently enjoys in India. "

 

Bureau Report

 

 

GREATNESS OF NATION AND ITS MORAL PROGRESS

CAN BE JUDGED BY THE WAY ITS ANIMALS ARE TREATED- M.K GANDHI.

STOP HUMAN AND ANIMAL SUFFERING - GO VEGAN

I am only one but still I am one. I cannot do everything but still I can do

something. I will not refuse to do the something I can do.

Helen Keller 1880 - 1968

 

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