“No Pride in Elephant Rides” – Jaipur Wildlife Lovers Support the World Animal Protection to Spread Awareness

World Animal Protection has received backing from ‘Jaipur Bikers,’ a bikers’ and wildlife enthusiast group from Jaipur, to raise awareness about the condition of elephants utilized as tourist attractions in Jaipur. The elephants in Amer fort are part of a tourism attraction package that forces these wild animals to live in unnatural surroundings and suffer.

Ex-DG Home Guards and Civil Defence IPS Shri. Kanhaiya Lal Bairwa and Gajender K Sharma, Country Director, World Animal Protection

“Elephants and other animals are used as commodities for commercial prospects in many places like Amer Fort in Jaipur. We take this initiative of “No Pride in Elephant Ride” to bring awareness among key stakeholders to help us in ending their suffering and relocating them to appropriate sanctuaries,” said Gajender Kumar Sharma, Country Director, World Animal Protection, India.

The world has changed since the pandemic. The tourism business was one of the hardest hit, leaving mahouts and owners of these wild creatures scrambling to find suitable space, food, and other amenities in difficult conditions.

“An adult elephant needs about 200 kg of daily food in such demanding times when it is difficult for human survival and we see this as a window to emphasise the concept of ‘bring back better’ embracing a humane model of tourism to improve the lives of the captive elephants. We have been in discussions with the government of Rajasthan to start a feasibility study to find alternative solutions to ensure welfare of elephants and mahouts is safeguarded,” said Gajender K Sharma, Country Director, World Animal Protection, India.