Saturday October 6, 2007, 7:43 pm
Dear All,

Even if the AWBI has given permission to use the elephants, what is
important to note is that since these are performing elephants, there is no
difference between these and elephants in a circus and therefore CZA
permission for them is also necessary.

All the details of this are mentioned in the letter by Ms. Anuradha Sawhney,
Chief Functionary, PETA-India below.

It may be noted that following an 18-month campaign by PETA, the city of
Mumbai has announced that elephants will no longer be allowed in the city.

The campaign featured high-profile advertisements against elephants in
captivity starring actors *Rahul
Khanna*and
*Celina Jaitley* ; letters
written by *MP Shatrughan
Sinha
* and *MP Maneka Gandhi*; and a
petitionsigned
by
*Dilip Kumar*, *Saira Banu*, *John Abraham*, *MP Priya Dutt*, *Sanjay Leela
Bansali*, *Isha Koppikar*, *Mahesh Bhatt*, *Yana Gupta* and *Gulshan Grover*
.

Check link to read more: http://www.petaindia.com/feat/f-mumbai-victory.asp

The Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Mr. M. C. Malakar also
acknowledged PETA-India`s concerns and has banned captive elephants from
begging in the whole of Assam state with immediate effect. Assam becomes the
first state in India to issue such an order. Mr. Malakar issued an official
circular asking the forest department officials to take strict action
against the offenders. Following this order by the Assam PCCF, the elephants
in Guwahati city and elsewhere in the state are not seen begging anymore.
This I can confirm and elephant owners have welcomed the move as well. Yet
again Assam state which has banned circus like events involving elephants
such as elephant football, elephant races, elephant mock fight, elephant tug
of war etc has gone one up to prove that it truly CARES for the elephants.

The following letter is being forwarded to AAPN for the knowledge
informationof those concerned for the welfare and rights of the captive
Indian elephant with the permission of Ms. Sawhney.

Azam Siddiqui

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



October 5, 2007

Mr. Ashutosh Gowarikar,

Flat no. 202,

Kumkum Villa,

16th Road, Bandra (W)

Mumbai 400 050

Dear Sir,

We are writing to you from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals
(PETA) India to ask for your understanding on behalf of elephants. We have
read news reports that you are planning to get 10 elephants from Jaipur to
your set in Karjat to shoot for your forthcoming film - Jodha Akbar. A copy
of the news clip is attached for your reference.

Sir, we would like to inform you that all captive elephants, including the
ones from Jaipur, lead miserable lives. During our investigations at Amer
fort in Jaipur, from where these elephants are supposedly being procured for
shooting, we found that elephants with apparent ankus wounds spent their
entire days standing in the hot sun with no water available to them – often
in their own faeces and urine – or trudging up and down to the fort, while
being poked with the ankus or being hit by sticks. Our investigators were
there for 6 hours and in that time they saw no evidence of any water
whatsoever being provided to the elephants. *We are enclosing photographs
for your reference*.

Taken from their natural homes and families, captive elephants suffer from
chronic physical ailments, social and emotional deprivation and premature
death. They are robbed of their most basic needs, including social
companionship and adequate space to exercise. An elephant requires almost
200 kgs of food and over 150 litres of water in a day yet this is not
provided to them.

Elephants are typically trained with extremely brutal methods that inflict
pain and fear in them to force them to obey the asinine tasks that humans
make them perform. In his normal life, an elephant would walk over 100 kms
daily foraging for food, yet in captivity they are kept tied almost their
entire life. Their feet are not equipped to walk on tar roads yet they spend
their entire day and much of the night walking on these roads. When they are
not working, these terribly neglected animals are chained by their legs;
they suffer from skin ailments, eye infections, cataracts and foot
diseases.They develop foot problems which are very rarely treated in
captivity. The pad of the feet also acts as a shock-absorber as natural
substrates 'give' a little under the weight of the foot. In captivity less
exercise, hard flooring (which does not have any 'give' to it) and standing
around in faeces and urine when chained up causes cracked and soft toe
nails.

Elephants are social creatures and in the wild, the females live in
closely-knit family groups. They spend about 18 hours a day walking,
feeding, bathing in water holes and interacting with other elephants. They
are intelligent and sensitive animals and are known to mourn the loss of a
relative, just as humans do. Captive conditions fail to provide an
interesting, stimulating and rewarding environment for elephants. Taken from
their families and homes, these elephants suffer a life of chronic physical
ailments, social deprivation, emotional starvation, and die early. These
magnificent beings are robbed of their most basic needs, including social
companionship and adequate space to roam, a life!

This is the sad life of India's captive elephants.

Elephants' performances are governed by the Performing Animals Registration
Rules, 2001, framed under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960. *A
copy of this act is enclosed for your reference*. Rule 3 of the said rules
prohibits any person from exhibiting a performing animal unless the animal
has been registered with the prescribed authority, as appointed under the
said rules. We verily believe that none of the elephants who are being
brought from Jaipur have been registered under the said rules. An owner who
makes an animal perform without registration is committing an offence
punishable under section 38(3) of the said act.

In addition, please note the letter no. 9-4/2005-PCA dated 7 December 2005
elucidating the kind of depiction of animals that is not be permitted *A
copy of the letter is also annexed for your reference*.

Further the Asian Elephant is protected under the Wild Life Protection Act,
1972 and internationally protected under the CITIES. The housing of wild
animals in captivity including elephants are governed by the Central Zoo
Authority guidelines.

Section 2(7A) of the Wild Life Protection Act, 1972, defines the term
"circus" as an establishment – either stationary or mobile – where animals
are kept or used wholly or mainly for the purpose of performing tricks and
manoeuvres.

Section 2(39) of the Wild Life Protection Act, 1972, includes inter alia
"circus" within the definition of the word "zoo".

Section 38H of the Wild Life Protection Act, 1972, declares that no zoo –
including circuses, per Section 2(39) – shall be operated without being
recognised by the Central Zoo Authority.

When these provisions of the Wild Life Protection Act, 1972, are read and
interpreted together, it is clear that these elephants that you propose to
perform fall within the definition of circus animal, as defined in Section
2(7A) of the act. Hence, such elephants would be covered by the definition
of zoos and cannot be made to perform without recognition by the Central Zoo
Authority and without having their housing and other needs met, as detailed
in the Recognition of Zoo Rules and as applicable to circuses.

Sir, on behalf of animals and all compassionate citizens, we humbly request
you to reconsider your decision to use these elephants. If you chose to use
these elephants please ensure that all provisions stipulated under various
legislation are fulfilled.

Please feel free to contact me with any further queries, I can be reached on
(0)9820122561.

Sincerely,


Anuradha Sawhney

Chief Functionary


CC: Chairman, Animal Welfare Board of India

Member Secretary, Central Zoo Authority

CCF Thane Circle, Thane (M.S.) – for necessary action and

Directions

Secretary, Animal Welfare Board of India, Chennai

Encl: As above

Thursday October 11, 2007, 8:49 pm
Great gift for my birthday today on 10-10-2007 & at Chandigarh another PIL
will be heard on 6-2-08 by the High Court.

Naresh Kadyan, petitioner




Mahendra Kachhawa wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
>Dear all,
>
> Again we got a historical sucess where the Hon'ble court issue
direction to state Government to confiscate the 14 Elephant which were
used by the elephant owners in Amer fort and other places of Jaipur in
shooting, polo etc. Now this is a heartly request to you all that the
Hon'ble court asked the Dr.M.S.Kachhawa to file a Scientific report or a
Research study that the Elephant can not survive on temperature more than
30 Celcius. Please send me the related documents and reports and research
study regarding max. temperature of survival of elephant.
> It is very important it will be a grat help for Wild Life because the
Court is going to decide decision on this on next hearing in this matter.
>
>
> TIGER HOUSE
> DR.M.S.KACHHAWA ADVOCATE

Wednesday October 24, 2007, 7:15 pm
Today I have spoken with the Chief Wildlife Warden, Rajasthan Sh. R.N.
>Mehrohtra about the permission for Elephants from Jaipur for Mumbai - AKBAR
>JODHA films & he has confirmed that they have received the application to
>grant permission but the same returned to the applicant, hence they have not
>yet given any permission/ transit permit for Elephants for Mumbai, Mr.
>Mehrohtra further clarify that he will not give any permit with out
>compliance of P.C.A ACT, 1960 along with the notifications issued under
>provisions / W.P ACT, 1972 - notifications issued under provisions along
>with the CZA instructions.
>Next date of the PIL will be 15-11-07,
>regards,
>Naresh Kadyan, Chairman - PFA HARYANA
>
>--
>
>

Wednesday October 24, 2007, 7:16 pm
AKBAR JODHA shooting completed now