PETA up in arms against jumbo rides

Raising their voice against ill-treatment of elephants during jumbo rides at Rajasthan's 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.

PETA's 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.