 |
        
 
Members
Login
| On March 28, 2007, UK artist Pollyanna Pickering and her daughter/manager Anna-Louise Pickering departed for Bhutan sketch and paint the rare flora and fauna of this largely undisturbed region of the Himalayas.
Find out more... |
|
|
|
|
| |
| Pollyanna Pickering supports 'Stop Elephant Polo' campaign |
|
Pollyanna has added her name to a growing list of international conservationists who are calling for an end to Elephant Polo. She was approached by the co-ordinator of the campaign, the Programmes Officer of the Wildlife Trust of India, and on finding out about the suffering and indignities inflicted on these magnificent animals in the name of this 'sport', was peased to offer her help.
In a message which now appears on their official web site, she says :
"As a wildlife artist I have been lucky enough to have the opportunity to observe and sketch elephants in the wild in India. I have found a growing fascination and empathy with these intelligent and majestic animals, with their complex social structures and remarkable emotional bonds.
I was very distressed to learn of the cruel practises which can be involved in training elephants to take part in what for them is an unnatural activity. Elephants who take part in these games do not do so voluntarily, but are forced to participate through training methods, which in many instances inflict pain and fear. Although to the casual observer elephant polo matches may appear entertaining, I feel that a spectacle such as this only shows animals trained to perform in the same way they would in a circus ring. While I appreciate that for the organisers of many of the matches the welfare of the elephants on the day is a priority, we cannot escape the fact that the movements the elephants are co-erced into making during the course of the game are not natural for these creatures. There is also the concern that some of the elephants who are forced to participate in such events are captured from the wild and taken away from their herds and family members, and that the continuation of the sport encourages the ongoing capture of wild elephants. Surely elephants should be celebrated and revered for their role in both India's society and ecosystem, not degraded as a cheap circus sideshow.
In the 21st century we no longer need to rely on the spectacle of trained wild animals for our entertainment, and I feel strongly that we should move beyond these 'games' and focus on other ways of encouraging people to appreciate and respect our wildlife, including elephants, other than as commodities which are only there for our amusement."
Other prminant figures to support the campaign include Dame Daphne Sheldrick, Virginia McKenna, poet Dr Benjamin Zephaniah and organsiations including WSPA, Zoocheck Canda, PETA (India), The Asian Animal Protection Network, Wildlife Protection Society of India, Animals Asia Foundation, The Captive Animals' Protection Society, International Animal Rescue and Advocates for Animals.
Pollyanna is currently in discusions to accept a formal role with the Wildlife Trust of India.
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
