ELEPHANT POLO

[Guest guest]

http://www.nbc4.tv/irresistible/4939454/detail.html

Elephant Polo Tournament Begins In Thailand

30 Elephants, 48 Players Compete For Trophy

 

POSTED: 8:03 am PDT September 6, 2005

UPDATED: 8:15 am PDT September 6, 2005

 

HUA HIN, Thailand -- Teams from around the world have gathered in Thailand for

the annual elephant polo competition.

 

 

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Slideshow: Players Ride Elephants In Polo Tournament

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FeedRoom

 

Elephant Polo Tournament Begins

 

 

 

Sixteen international teams are going trunk-to-trunk for the competition's

coveted golden trophy.

 

The seven-day event promises some fierce on-field battles with 30 jumbo

elephants and 48 players competing for a prime position in the finals.

 

The event attracts hundreds of spectators and raises thousands of dollars for

charity.

 

So far, the competition has raised $100,000 for the National Elephant Institute,

which provides medical care for the animals and training for elephant handlers.

 

The competition's organizer, Christopher Stafford, said this year's event will

be bigger and better than ever.

 

" I think this year the elephants are faster. We have more, many more,

experienced players this year, so the games will be very tough, " Stafford said.

 

 

[Guest guest]

Dear Dr.John,

 

Please find attatched the views of Rob Laidlaw, Director, Zoocheck

Canada Inc.

 

I request you to kindly post in on AAPN.

 

Thanks,

 

Azam Siddiqui

 

 

October 10, 2006

 

 

To Whom It May Concern:

 

I was recently made aware of an upcoming elephant polo tournament to

be held in Jaipur on November 18th. I would like to state my

opposition to such an event and request that you do whatever you can

to make sure the event does not proceed as planned.

 

While the proponents of the elephant polo tournament may feel that

the event will in some way be beneficial to elephants, presumably by

bringing their plight to the attention of a affluent audience, I have

doubts that that will occur. In fact, it is entirely possible that a

completely opposite message will be conveyed and that elephants will

be worse off because of it.

 

Even if a positive verbal narrative or printed literature accompanies

the event, audience members will still view the very powerful imagery

of captive elephants being utilized, perhaps exploited is a better

word, in a novelty situation for relatively frivolous entertainment

purposes. The notion that it is acceptable to use these animals for

such a purpose will almost certainly override any other kind of

messaging.

 

As well, the fact that mahouts will have sit on each elephant and

exercise control over their movements leaves room for abuse through

the excessive, though perhaps subtle, use of implements, such as the

ankus, especially if the elephants are unruly or uncooperative.

 

Certainly the plight of elephants in India and other parts of Asia is

serious and deserves attention, but that should not include

nonsensical spectacles like elephant polo. If that is what elephants

need to depend upon, then they are in even more trouble than we

imagine.

 

Please do what you can to ensure that this event does not take place

as planned. Thank you for considering this letter.

 

Sincerely,

 

Rob Laidlaw

CBiol MIBiol

Zoocheck Canada Inc.

 

107/C, Railway Colony, New Guwahati- 781021, Assam. INDIA

Ph: +91 94350 48481 (M), +91 99540 97586 ®

www.freewebs.com/azamsiddiqui