Jaipur protest demands end to use of elephants to carry tourists.

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About 100 animals transport visitors along kilometre-long cobbled path to the city’s iconic Amber Fort.

Elephants carry tourists along the walls of the Amber Fort in Jaipur, India. Photograph: aluxum/Getty Images
▼ Animal rights protesters took to the streets on bicycles in the Indian city of Jaipur on Sunday, demanding an end to elephants being used to carry tourists to one of the country’s top attractions, the iconic Amber Fort.
Encouraging the use of bicycles rather than burdening elephants was the aim of the protest, organised by the animal charity World Animal Protection (WAP) to mark World Elephant Day on Monday.
About 100 elephants carry tourists along the kilometre-long path up the hill to the fort. It is a steep climb on hard cobbled stones. The combined weight on the elephant’s back of two tourists, themahout(elephant keeper) and the clunky wooden seat that holds passengers can be up to 300kg.
“It’s not just a question of the cruel methods that are used to train them in order to make them docile but also the fact that many are in dire need of medical help. The ailments range from tuberculosis, blood problems, blindness, malnourishment, and foot injuries from walking on hard surfaces,” said WAP’s Kirsty Warren.

Elephants carry tourists up a stone passage to the Amber Fort. Photograph: VW Pics/Universal Images Group via Getty Images
Animal rights group in the city have been campaigning against the elephant rides for several years now and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals(PETA) is fighting a case in the courts. But the groups have had little luck beyond persuading the tourist department to limit the number of passengers from the previous maximum of four to two, and the number of rides a day to five in winter and three in summer.
The elephant owners say they need the income maintain their livelihoods. (▪ ▪ ▪)

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asr335704

This should be handled with a balanced approach so that it will help elephants and also does not effect livelihoods of elephant owners. PETA group, Tourist Department and Elephant Owners should collaborate, chalk out a plan and implement it together. This way, it would be win win for everyone.

parivijesh100

Why so hall.  Elephant owners also need money. If you really want to welfare such animals, best will be to repurchase them & leave them in forest. Besides,  Government to come out with a rule in that way. And , let us include all animals including those owned by rich people like dogs etc.

themaskeditor

I would suggest government should free the captive animals and leave them in their natural habitat. Also they how provide some alternative means to earn for the elephant owners.

It becomes dis-heartening to see ill-treatment to such wonderful creatures. Elephants are highly emotional animals and should not be messed with.

I am against any kind of animal captivity. Imagine we being treated the same way as they are treated.