Rahul Khanna Is PETA’s New Poster Boy
Posing next to the tagline “Beaten, Shackled, Abused- Elephants Don’t Belong in Zoos,” actor Rahul Khanna stars in a brand-new ad for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India. In the ad Rahul Khanna is shown shackled in chains, with bruises painted onto his body. The ad has been shot by top photographer Colston Julian.
Why is Rahul Khanna making a statement for elephants in captivity? Last year, Mumbai saw the death of an elephant named Laxmi who was hit by a speeding tanker. Because proper medical attention could not be provided, Laxmi suffered with a broken leg and spinal injuries before dying a day later. Another elephant in Mumbai was frightened by a fire cracker and fell on a car. The mahout fled the scene and the elephant created a rampage.
Elephants in cities cause obstruction to traffic and are a threat to the general public as well. Their feet are not equipped to walk on tar roads yet they spend their entire day and much of the night walking on these roads. These elephants are used for begging by the mahouts and there have been instances where the mahouts have used the elephants to intimidate people to extract money from them.
Zoos claim that they educate people and preserve species, but they rarely succeed on either count. “Zoos cannot provide for the complex needs of the animals who they hold captive,” says Rahul. “These majestic animals belong in the wild, but instead they are locked up like criminals-even though they’ve committed no crime. A more respectful way to observe these animals is through the fascinating wildlife programs available to everyone on TV.”
Information Courtesy: Indiafm.com
Loading ...
Comment by Ron Jaffe
As usual, PETA neglects to mention that many zoos take care of sick and elderly animals and those who were once abused or who were in ‘shows’ or in exploitative roadside zoos. Also, zoos have many animals whose natural habitats have been destroyed or diminished to the point where there would be too many animals in a space that is not large enough to hold them all. You can’t just take these animals and release them into the wild.
PETA has lost touch with its grass roots beginnings and chooses to flex its star-studded muscle in hopes that people too shallow to care about other important issues such as habitat destruction, will just write their checks so they can feel good about themselves later.
PETA could also educate people about their ‘missions’ and goals by advertising on TV, but they choose to be out in everyone’s faces because they realize that when someone sees them in ‘real life’ it makes more of an impact – The same thing with people who see animals in real life.
Most animal rights groups have lost touch with their roots.
Ron Jaffe
Former PETA / EARTH FIRST / SAVE THE MANATEE member.
Pingback by Image Of The Week: Celina Jaitley’s Hot Photoshoot for PETA cause
[...] For The Ethical Treatment Of Animal) India, based in Mumbai, was launched in January 2000. Many bollywood actors have signed PETA and doing the campaign for them. They have chosen Celina Jaitley for this newest campaign because [...]