Following the public outcry over pictures of a captive elephant being painted bright pink for a photoshoot in Rajasthan, Anupama star and India supporter Rupali Ganguly of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), who officially joins the Bharatiya Janata Party in 2024, has written to the Honorable Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi Ji calling for an end to elephant rides and animal displays instead of robotic elephants and other non-animals. Urged to encourage the use of the means. In his letter, Ganguly expressed grief over the death of Chanchal, the elephant shown in the photoshoot, who has reportedly died, and expressed his shared respect for wildlife with the Prime Minister.
After the pink elephant photoshoot controversy, Rupali Ganguly wrote a letter to Narendra Modi urging him to ban elephant riding.
Ganguly noted that the owner cited in news reports – Saddiq/Shadiq Khan – is also linked to Malti, an elephant who was used for rides at the Amer Fort, was violently beaten and later transferred to a sanctuary following the efforts of PETA India. She emphasizes that while the photoshoot shocked people, elephants used for rides in places like Amer Fort are routinely kept chained when not in use and controlled using weapons, a situation that can cause severe physical and psychological distress.
“This incident has outraged people across India and beyond, demonstrating how strongly the public now feels against the exploitation of elephants,” Ganguly wrote. She appealed, “On World Wildlife Day, you shared the importance of wildlife conservation. In the same spirit, I respectfully urge that India abolish all elephant riding as Indonesia has now done, and that robotic elephants, decorated electric vehicles and other non-animal alternatives be encouraged for use to save our national heritage animal from cruel spectacles.”
PETA India says that destitute elephants being forced into close contact with humans can be unpredictable, and attacks on elephants used for rides and other performances are regular occurrences. For elephant and human welfare, the Kerala Tourism Department is promoting a mechanical elephant safari experience at the Thambooramozhi Butterfly Garden near the iconic Athirappilly Waterfalls instead of a live elephant.
