Animal lover and TV presenter Paul O’Grady has made a plea to holidaymakers not to ride on elephants when they’re abroad.
Paul recently spent time with elephants who had been rescued by leading Indian conservation charity Wildlife SOS India.
He was so moved by the experience that he’s made a short film begging tourists not to ride captive elephants.
“If you see somebody offering rides on a elephant’s back, please don’t go because the reason they’re like that is because they have been brutalised,” he said.
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Showing off the horrible-looking chains used to control the elephants in captivity, Paul added: “These have been used on them.”
He said that tourists should also be wary of elephants in circuses and in temples, and those used to beg on the streets.
“Please have no part of it,” he added.
With emotion in his voice, Paul went on: “It is a cruel trade, it’s an evil business, and we are trying to save these beautiful creatures.”
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He said that it’s not enough to just avoid the elephant rides, and added that people should add their voices to the protests.
“Please object strongly to it,” he said.
“Don’t be passive. Create a fuss and say this cannot happen, it has to stop.”
Paul, who’s known for his love of animals, has recently become patron of the charity after it featured in his TV show For the Love of Animals – India.
He visited the charity’s conservation centre where he met lots of animals, including an elephant called Mohan, who was kept in captivity for 50 years earning himself the title of The World’s Unluckiest Elephant.
Paul was recently rushed to hospital while filming in India, having picked up an infection from the dogs he was looking after.
Fortunately, the star has made a full recovery.