Captive Elephant Erupts in Anger—Help Now!

Update:

Over the weekend, Sunder became violent and uncontrollable and attempted
to escape. The fierce outburst
included pulling down a heavy pillar to which he was tied with strong
ropes and ransacking local retail shops—actions that show that he is suffering
severely and is desperate to flee from his abusers.

Pillar to which Sunder was tied

Sunder, back in the dark shed, chained

PETA India
has demanded an emergency meeting with Maharashtra Forest
Minister Dr. Patangrao Shripatrao Kadam to secure Sunder’s relocation to
a sanctuary, pointing out that people living in and around the temple
are at risk of being harmed or killed and that the mahout and temple management
are now likely to abuse Sunder even more as they try to control him. Please write to Dr. Kadam today
and get everyone you know to do the same. Urge him politely but firmly to arrange for Sunder’s relocation immediately.
The world is watching. Thank you.

Originally posted August 6:

You may have heard that just before the London Olympic Games, Paul McCartney halted rehearsals to make an urgent plea in behalf of a suffering young elephant. Now, PETA India has obtained new photographic evidence of the abuse that the
elephant is enduring while being used as a living begging bowl and beaten by a
vicious, inept young mahout
(trainer).

At just 13 years old, Sunder has already
experienced terrible torment. Kept in chains in a dark shed at the Jyotiba
Temple in Maharashtra, India, he is unable to take even a single step without causing
a spike to jab his skin.

When
he is taken out of the shed in order to beg for money for this wealthy temple,
the mahout controls him with a spiked chain, a sharp bullhook (which is like a
fireplace poker), and other weapons that force Sunder to follow orders out of
fear of being struck.

Sunder is often seen with fresh wounds that
he sustained during beatings, and the marks that cover his body stand as
evidence of years of abuse. A PETA India–supported program, Animal Rahat, was finally given permission to provide the
elephant with veterinary care for his right eye, which was likely injured from
being jabbed with a bullhook.

Sunder is also denied adequate food and water
and never experiences anything that is natural and important to him, such as
exploring the woods and enjoying the company of other elephants.

A complaint has been filed with police against
Sunder’s mahout, since the torment that he inflicts on the elephant is in violation
of the Wildlife Protection acts of 1972 and 2002 and the Prevention of Cruelty to
Animals Act, 1960. PETA India and the veterinarians present are also requesting that Forest
Minister Dr. Patangrao Shripatrao Kadam use his authority to have Sunder
surrendered and retired to a proper sanctuary that PETA India has standing by
to receive him.

Help free Sunder! E-mail the forest
minister, Dr. Kadam, and urge him to free Sunder without a moment’s delay.