World Elephant Day 2022: Jennifer Winget says, 'To end captive elephant abuse, do not indulge tourist attractions!'

Today, August 12, is World Elephant Day, a time to pay heed to the need to help conserve elephants and protect from the threats they face on account of so many reasons - poaching, displacement and destruction of habitat, the human-animal conflict and cruelty in captivity. While agencies and animal lovers across the world will swing into action to raise awareness to save these pachyderms, back home, Jennifer Winget, too showed her love for them.She celebrated ‘World Elephant Day’ by volunteering at the Elephant Conservation & Care Centre (ECCC), run by wildlife con-servation NGO Wildlife SOS in Mathura. Here's a peek into what she did there...
'Eye-opening to see the torture and pain these magnificent creatures have suffered'


The actress spent a few days volunteering at the Wildlife SOS Elephant Conservation and Care Centre. During her visit, she took a close look at the care that is given to rescued elephants. On Day One, Jennifer learned about heartbreaking stories of these animals who were left in a physically and mentally negative state after decades of mistreatment. She was moved at their plight and said, "When it comes to animals; any animal, I am all in, no question. I have been following the extensive work of the Wildlife SOS team for a long time and have always longed to have closer access not just to the animals they save and work for, but to the team and everything that goes on here. Elephants are magnificent and yet the gentlest of creatures and to be in such close company is awe-inspiring, to say the least. We have all heard renditions of the torture and pain they have suffered and the damage and destruction we sometimes carelessly hold them accountable for, but seeing and understanding this from their point of view is eye-opening for me.”
'There's so much love for elephants, but sadly that is misdirected'

She also undertook other activities centering around the care of the elephants, such as chopping fruits and vegetables for them and observing how they received foot care and other treatments from the veterinarians. The highlight of all this was observing the elephants on their afternoon walk! It was fun to watch them in their green habitat. She states, “I feel there is so much love for elephants in India, but sadly so misdirected. The need of the hour is a shift in consciousness – firstly, to be mindful and aware of the plight of elephants in our country, in the name of old traditions. Where on one hand we venerate them, seek their blessings and admire the beautiful beings that they are, on the other hand we use them for our own selfish purposes, often times towards cruelty that is unimaginable. We need to learn how to co-exist. It’s the ONE thing we should be gladly doing!"
She adds, "The full welfare needs of elephants cannot be met in captivity. Such a life is inherently cruel and leads to suffering throughout their long lives. Anyone who shares any concern for the dwindling elephant population or captive elephant abuse needs to work to end tourist attractions—not indulge or fund them!”