Jaipur: Elephants rides at the historic Amber fort are one of the Jaipur's top tourist attractions. But in recent years the exploitation of these jumbos for commercial gains has angered animal lovers.
Maina, an elephant at Amber Fort, went berserk as she was forced to give rides to tourists despite being sick. And attempts to check her were so brutal that she died last week.
On Sunday, hundreds marched in a mock funeral in Jaipur to protest against the cruelty inflicted on elephants at the fort. They carried stuffed elephants, a symbolic representation of Maina.
"The jumbos should not be used like machines or some taxis. They have a life and they should be treated like living beings. There should be compassion not cruelty towards the elephants," said one of the protesters.
"These elephants are a major symbol of Jaipur's heritage. And if we ruin that symbol itself, then its really terrible," another protester said.
Activists also want a ban on the iron ankush used to control jumbos and a limit on the number of rides that each elephant gives in the scorching heat at the Amber Fort.
"The elephants should not be allowed to give more than two or three rides in a day. More load in the heat of Jaipur harms their health and they suffer from cataract, sunburns and foot sores," said Dr Sanjiv Chawla, a veterinary expert.
Due to ill-treatment three of Amber's royal elephants have gone astray in the past year. And in 2005, an overworked jumbo had trampled a tourist guide to death.
With people coming out in support of elephants, hopefully the government will be pushed to respond positively. But until concrete action is initiated, the health and safety of Amber's jumbos will remain in danger.