Indian baby elephant’s freedom becomes international cause

After Beatles legend Paul McCartney, former Baywatch star Pamela Anderson has spoken out to save the young elephant Sunder from the shackles which tie him to a temple in Kolhapur district of Maharashtra.

Anderson, who was a guest on reality show Bigg Boss in 2010, has written a letter to MLA Vinay Kore, leader of the Jan Surajya Shakti Party, requesting that the elephant be removed from the Jyotiba Temple and sent to a sanctuary right away, before he suffers more.

Sunder was donated to the temple by Kore. The young elephant has been beaten so badly by his mahout (handler) that he sustains an eye injury and is kept in chains, according to PETA (People for Ethical Treatment of Animals).

“I am in tears over the plight of the little elephant, Sunder, who you so kindly gave to Jyotiba Temple with the best of intentions. I am sure you are also crushed by what has been done to this little soul. He is the age of one of my sons, and as sensitive as anyone’s child. Like other victims of abuse, he will be scarred for life mentally, as he already is physically,” wrote Anderson.

“I’m sure you feel as I do that elephants are precious creatures of God, and it is a crime against Heaven that he could have been allowed to be treated like this. Sunder must be rescued without delay. May everyone, including me, count on you, please, to save this youngster?”

Earlier this week, Paul McCartney interrupted his Olympics rehearsals to send an urgent appeal to Forest Minister Patangrao Shripatrao Kadam to help free Sunder from chains.