Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas slammed by PETA for using 'panicked' animals at lavish wedding

Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas have been blasted by a leading animal rights charity for using horses and elephants at their star studded wedding in India.

The celebrity couple tied the knot at the Taj Umaid Bhawan Palace in India, with Jonas reportedly arriving on horseback.

The India branch of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals slammed their use of animals, accusing Chopra of “participating in animal abuse”.

“Priyanka was ill served by not being advised of the firestorm that would be caused by participating in animal abuse,” PETA India CEO Manilal Valliyate said in a statement. “It doesn’t make a person look big or glamorous to promote cruelty to animals who have no choice but to serve. It makes them look small.”

The charity also criticised the couple on Twitter, congratulating them on their nuptials but condemning them for not going animal-free.

A tweet read: “Dear @priyankachopra and @nickjonas. Elephants for weddings live in chains and horses are controlled with whips with spiked bits. People are rejecting elephant rides. Congrats, but we regret it was not a happy day for animals (sic).”

Another read: “Horses are sensitive to noise. Excited crowds, firecrackers, and music at weddings bother these animals. The auditory onslaught of weddings can be too much for them to bear and they often panic, which can lead to accidents (sic).”

Standard Online has contacted representatives for Chopra for comment.

Chopra and Jonas had a three-day wedding bash, which included a traditional Indian wedding and a Christian ceremony.

They were joined by celebrity friends and family including Jonas’ brothers Kevin, Frankie and Joe, who is engaged to Game of Thrones actress Sophie Turner.

Chopra wore bespoke Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla for her Mehndi and Sangeet, and both bride and groom opted for Ralph Lauren for the Christian ceremony.

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Supreme Court makes trunk call to count captive elephants

In a bid to protect captive elephants and ensure that they are not tortured and overworked, the Supreme Court on Thursday made it mandatory for all states to carry out a survey of captive pachyderms.

The SC wants the survey to be completed before December 31, 2018. It said that owners need to have a certificate to retain the elephants.

The court issued these instructions on a petition filed by Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre seeking protection of elephants and implementation of the Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972 and the Prevention of Cruelty of Animals Act 1960. Women and Child Development minister Maneka Gandhi claimed that the elephant population in India has dwindled to 26,000. Out of these, 3,500 are in captivity.

The states will have to submit a report to the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change before the second week of January 2019 when the case is listed for next the hearing.

Elephant rides are a big hit among tourists, at Amber Fort in Rajasthan and Kerala. The government authorised jumbo rides are included on the roster for domestic and international visitors.

The Supreme Court has directed Chief Wild Life Warden of every state to "ascertain and identify" elephants in captivity.

The court has also directed the wardens to ensure the owners of captive elephants have ownership certificate. If they do not, then same may be granted provisionally.

The People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) had claimed that none of the elephants ferrying tourists at Amber Fort, Rajasthan are registered with the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI).

In September, the Rajasthan High Court had issued notices to Rajasthan on how elephant rides were being allowed without registration. In another case, animal activist Gauri Maulekhi cited an AWBI report claiming that 10 of the 102 elephants lodged at Elephant Village, Amber, were suffering from tuberculosis. Nineteen elephants were also found to be blind.

Jumbo Facts

26,000 is the elephant population in India

3,500 elephants are in captivity

10 of the 102 elephants lodged at Elephant Village in Amber suffer from tuberculosis; 19 elephants are blind (AWBI report)

Elephant rides are major tourist attractions in Rajasthan and Kerala

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Court orders probe into cruelty against elephants in Jaipur

The court of Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate has ordered the police to investigate the condition of elephants being used mostly for rides in Amer Fort on the basis of a petition filed by People for Animals.

The petition cited a report by the Animal Welfare Board of India which pointed out that the most of the elephants used in rides were maltreated and more than half were unfit given poor eyesight, age and are suffering with tuberculosis. Tusks of half of them were found to be cut. The report also said that most elephants were under psychological duress.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals to have been seeking a ban on elephant rides in Amer.

Once in a while, there are instances where elephants have thrown off tourists riding on them.

The court has also ordered police to lodge FIR against those guilty of violating Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

Jaipur, given its royal past, is known for domesticated elephants and tourists get excited seeing them walking alongside the roads.

Elephant Polo had a heritage legacy and the Holi on elephants had become a popular annual festival until animal activists got the two banned a few years ago.

There are more than a 100 elephants that are kept at Hathi Gaon near the fort. The government has been trying to shift elephant rides in Hathi Gaon and has even built a luxurious guest house for tourists to stay but there are few takers.


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In India, an elephant wins freedom from tourist rides and the illegal wildlife trade

It is a heartrending story, but with a happy ending for one elephant. Suman is born into captivity to Champa, one of dozens of elephants who are used to ferry tourists up and down the hills to Amer Fort, a popular spot in Jaipur, India. When Suman is still a calf, her overworked mother, to whom she is very close, falls severely ill and passes away.

Suman, stressed and agitated by her mother’s death, would have faced a life similar to her mother’s – as an elephant giving joy rides to tourists — if not for the relentless efforts of Humane Society International and our partner in India, People for Animals. Last week, in response to a court case filed by HSI/India and PFA challenging the legality of Suman’s ownership, a court ruled that the 10-year-old elephant should be handed over to the state wildlife department. Suman is now being moved to a state-run rescue facility and we hope she will be soon moved to a sanctuary where she can spend the rest of her life in peace and in the company of other elephants.

Elephants in India are a beleaguered species and they face many threats, including habitat loss due to environmental degradation, human-animal conflict, poaching and the illegal wildlife trade, in which Suman was caught up. Studies show that the number of Asian elephants has dropped by at least 50 percent over the last three generations.

It is estimated that 3,500 elephants in India now live in captivity. India’s Wildlife Protection Act, passed in 1972, makes it illegal to capture elephants for commercial purposes, but people who already “owned” elephants at the time the law was passed were allowed to keep them so long as they obtained an ownership certificate. Unfortunately, like Suman, most of the elephants now in captivity are being held illegally and without the required papers.


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Major travel agents have promised to crack down on animal cruelty. But new evidence shows otherwise.

Some of the biggest holiday companies – including Tui and Expedia – have previously made pledges to protect animal welfare. But Which? has published research showing that this is far from the case.
Lip service

In 2013, the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) released a handbook [pdf] titled ‘Global Guidance for Animals in Tourism’. Travel agent Thomas Cook helped to develop these animal welfare guidelines. It claims to be an “industry leader in animal welfare”, and has stopped “selling elephant rides or shows in any of its markets”.

Yet despite the ban, tourists on Thomas Cook holidays are still riding elephants. Which? highlights:


Other industry giant[s], including Trailfinders, Virgin Holidays and Expedia, also vowed to take a tougher stance on animal welfare. But nine out of ten companies we investigated were still selling tickets to facilities where animals are reportedly kept in poor conditions, or are forced to perform for entertainment.


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Suffering elephants giving joy rides to tourists at Amber fort

Jaipur, Apr 24 (PTI) Elephants offering joy rides to tourists at the iconic Amber Fort here have been found to be suffering from blindness and tuberculosis and are often forced to carry loads heavier than 200 kg, an examination of over 100 elephants at the spot has found.

As per the examination conducted by the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) during December 2017 to March 2018 at Hathi Gaon, 19 captive elephants of the 102 elephants were observed to be blind, either unilaterally or bilaterally, rendering them unfit for any work. 10 elephants were found suffering from tuberculosis and 28 were found to be above 50 years of age.

Elephants were found to be under severe psychological distress. The tusks of 47 elephants appeared to have been cut. The elephants were seen carrying loads heavier than 200 kg, the report said.

Elephant rides are a major tourist attraction at Amber Fort.

There were 132 privately owned captive elephants in Rajasthan in January 2015, 110 in 2016 and 102 in 2017, it said. As per the report, out of the 102 elephants, matters related to legal compliance of keeping and using 53 elephants are pending before the magistrate court in Jaipur and hence the matter is subjudice.

48 elephants seem to have been issued illegitimate ownership certificates by the Rajasthan Forest Department (RFD) as they mention ‘source of purchase’ and ‘present market value’ of the elephant. Both these citations indicate commercial value of an elephant, which is prohibited under the law, the report said.

Based on the compilation of observations and its interpretations as per important legal provisions, guidelines of Ministry of Environment and Forest and parameters set by AWBI in its application form, the report said none of the 102 elephants qualifies all the criteria set for registration with the AWBI under PARR, 2001. “No elephant can be registered for offering rides at Amer Fort due to load restrictions mandated by the MoEF guidelines and other provisions of the law,” it said. The report also recommended an inquiry into the current practice of cutting tusks without taking necessary permission from the forest department and into why there are two elephant calves in private custody in Jaipur, in rampant violation of wildlife protection laws. Additionally, the accurate number of captive elephant population in Rajasthan also needs to be ascertained, it said.

Animal rights activists have demanded a complete ban on atrocities on animals.

“Shocking report of blind and TB-infected elephants has come to fore after examination. The elephants are forced to carry backbreaking loads day in and day out. The rides must stop,” PETA India Lead Public Policy Officer Nikunj Sharma said He said PETA India is asking authorities to intervene and protect these suffering elephants.


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PETA founder meets Tourism Minister Alphons, seeks ban on elephant rides

NEW DELHI: PETA founder Ingrid Newkirk met Tourism Minister K J Alphons today and submitted 63,000 digitally-signed appeals from tourists requesting a ban on elephant rides, the animal rights organisation said.

The appeals were signed last week, after a video showing an elephant used in tourism being beaten so hard that the animal's leg broke spread across the globe.

"Earlier this week, PETA supporters...took part in a demonstration calling for a ban on elephant rides," the statement from PETA said.

Alphons watched the video during the meeting with the PETA founder and assured her that he would put his office to good use to prevent cruelty to elephants.

"Representing tourists from all over the world, who would rather take home photographs of elephants living in nature than memories of a trip ruined by the sight of broken beasts, it was heartening to hear the minister express his compassion and respect for the plight of these social, intelligent and sensitive beings and pledge to help," Newkirk said.

PETA said that Alphons has assured Newrick that he will issue an advisory to state governments and union territories on the matter.

Earlier, the ministry had also received a letter from Academy Award winner Anjelica Huston requesting the minister to stop cruelty towards elephants.

According to figures compiled by the Heritage Animal Task Force, between 2001 and 2016, captive elephants killed more than 526 people in Kerala alone.

In 2016, the Animal Welfare Board of India issued an advisory to the Ministry of Environment Forests and Climate Change in favour of a ban on training, exhibition and use of elephants for performances in India.

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PETA seeks ban on use of elephants for recreational rides

Wearing elephant masks, a group of animal rights activists, under the banner of PETA, today demonstrated in central Delhi's Connaught Place area, seeking a ban on the use of the animal for recreational rides.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India supporters appealed to the Union Tourism Ministry to impose a ban on the use of elephants for recreational rides, saying it amounted to animal cruelty.

Nikunj Sharma, Lead, Public Policy at PETA India office, was among those who joined the protest, a spokesperson said.


"PETA founder Ingrid Newkirk is in Delhi right now. She plans to deliver a letter on behalf of tourists to the Ministry of Tourism later this week, seeking a ban," he said.

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Elephant Who Spent Decades Giving Rides Has Best Response To Freedom

For the past 40 years, Priyanka the elephant has spent her days giving people rides through the city streets of India with a heavy seat strapped to her back.

With constant pressure on her spine and no shelter from the sun, Priyanka walked and walked every day with an aching back and feet burnt from the hot asphalt roads.

The 44-year-old elephant was also regularly rented out for parades, which forced her to march long distances among noisy spectators. As she walked along the routes, people would often startle her with loud music and firecrackers or even try to climb onto her as she passed.

Like many elephants taken from the wild to be used for entertainment, Priyanka never knew what it was like to be part of an elephant family — until now.

Wildlife SOS India learned of Priyanka’s plight over a year ago and has tracked her movements ever since — knowing that it was only a matter of time before the team could bring her to safety from her owner, who was keeping her illegally. The organization planned her rescue over the course of months, and the chance to save her finally presented itself last week.

“We immediately mobilized a rescue team to assist the local Forest Department in the area to conduct a daring seizure operation along with the local police department,” the rescue wrote in an update. “But even perfect opportunities can easily go wrong, and we had to keep everything on the down low for the safety of Priyanka and the amazing team that had gone out to rescue her.”

The team successfully seized Priyanka, though her previous owner tried to have the elephant returned to him — despite not having any valid ownership documents. But a few days later, with paperwork and permissions finalized, Priyanka was clear to go to her new home at Wildlife SOS’ Elephant Conservation and Care Center.

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No elephant ride at Amber during Navratri festival

Elephant rides will remain suspended at Amber Fort during the upcoming festival of Navratri.

The rides at the massive courtyard of Jaleb Chowk and the popular Shila Mata Temple have been halted from today till the end of the month.

However, the light and sound show in English at 8.30 pm will go as usual during the auspicious Navratri festival.

Also, on the World Tourism Day (September 27) the entry to Amber Palace will be free for all.

The rides will resume from October 1 and continue till March 2018, a government release said.

Elephant ride at Amber, is one of the highlights of a visit to the stunning Amer Fort. Elephants will be decorated with traditional painted patterns and effortlessly transport visitors up the steep slope to the fort.

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Amber Fort cancels elephant rides

The famed Amber fort has started making preparations for the nine-day Navratri festival starting later this month. The world famous monument, which also houses the Shila Mata temple will also halt elephant rides for the period.

Night tourism activities will also not be conducted. The light-and-sound show will have only one performance at 8:30 pm.

These activities are typically at the top of to-do lists for tourists visiting Jaipur. Since the tourism season in the state starts in September itself, even weekdays see lots of footfalls.

Pankaj Dharendra, Suprintendent of Amber fort, said elephant rides will not be available starting September 20 through September 30. Starting October through March, 2018, 5-6 rounds daily for each elephant will be permitted.

While the morning session will be from 7:30 am to 11:30 am, the evening rides will be conducted from 3:30 pm to 5:00 pm .

On the occasion of World Tourism Day, entry to Amber Fort will be free on September 27.

A meeting related to reviewing the arrangements at the fort during the Navratri festival was conducted recently. Notably, due to the Shila Mata temple which sees a lot of devotees the nine days of Navratri, additional security arrangements have been made.

TIME CHANGED
The elephant rides will not be available from September 20 to September 30.
Starting October through March 2018, only 5-6 rounds will be permitted.
The morning rides will commence from 7:30 am to 11:30 am and evening rides will be conducted from 3:30 pm to 5:00 pm.

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PETA up in arms against jumbo rides

Raising their voice against ill-treatment of elephants during jumbo rides at Rajasthans famous Amber Fort, animal rights body PETA has filed a complaint with Jaipur police against unidentified men in this regard.

The intervention comes after a group of tourists wrote to the animal rights body regarding one such incident at the fort.

The People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has also urged the Rajasthan government to end elephant rides in Amber Fort.

Based on the complaint by the body, an FIR was registered against unidentified men under IPC sections 429 and 289 (mischief by killing or maiming an animal).

In the FIR, PETA stated that approximately eight men ran out with sticks and an iron ankus, and encircled the elephant and kicked the animal for more than 10 minutes. The pachyderm was trying to escape from giving forced rides in extreme heat.

"Forcing an elephant to give rides through the use of weapons and in the searing heat is cruel but common at Amber Fort," says PETA Chief Executive Officer, Manilal Valliyate.

PETAs complaint also included violation of sections under major animal protection laws namely, Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PCA) Act, 1960 and Performing Animals (Registration) Rules (PARR), 2001.

The animal rights body also urged Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation (RTDC), which permits and promotes elephant rides, to put an end to these rides, saying they were "illegal".

"PETA is calling for the perpetrators to be punished and the Rajasthan government to end elephant rides in Amber Fort and elsewhere in the state. Mechanised and eco-friendly safari vehicles can be used instead," said Valliyate.

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Cruelty to elephant cops file fir against unidentified persons

Jaipur: Following a complaint filed by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) against handlers ill-treating an elephant during rides at the Amber Fort, Jaipur police registered a First Information Report (FIR) against unidentified men.

FIR has been registered under sections 429 and 289 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for ill-treating an elephant and putting public safety at risk. In its complaint, PETA stated that on June 25, about eight men ran out with sticks and an iron ‘ankush’ – a torture device, which is restricted from use by Rajasthan High Court – and encircled the elephant, who had tried to escape from being forced to give rides in the extreme heat.

The men reportedly beat up the helpless animal for more than 10 minutes and continued doing so even after the elephant had stopped trying to escape. A group of American tourists, who were a witness to this, wrote to PETA, asking the group to take action against this cruelty. TOI had reported the incident on June 26, 2017.

In its complaint to Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation Ltd (RTDC), which permits and promotes elephant rides, PETA urged to put an end to the rides, as they are apparently illegal. The PETA complaint referred to the orders dated December 9, 2014 and September 28, 2015 of the High Court of Kerala, which mandated that, elephants used for rides where public is admitted by sale of tickets must be registered under PARR, 2001 and that, the elephants used for rides in Amber Fort and elsewhere in Rajasthan are not registered as per the mandate of these court orders.

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