Hollywood actress Pamela Anderson has extended her support to pay for 30 life-sized bamboo and papier-mache elephants to replace live pachiderms at this year's Thrissur Pooram festival - billed as the 'mother of all festivals' in Kerala.
Anderson penned a letter to Kerala's chief minister, making her offer, after the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) advised Kerala officials to leave live elephants out of the upcoming Thrissur Pooram parade because they are not registered with the AWBI as required by law.
Anderson is the long-time patron of the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India.
The 47-year-old "Baywatch" beauty has said she would contribute the cost of providing 30 life-sized, realistic and portable tuskers to replace live elephants whose use is coming under increasing scrutiny because of changing public opinion.
"I'm sure you know that both Indian and international public opinion is turning solidly against the use of elephants in captivity. I'd like to offer my support for what is a wonderful opportunity to make a stunning, humane spectacle that everyone would talk about and that would garner international praise," Anderson wrote to Chief Minister Oommen Chandy in a letter, a copy of which is with IANS.
If Anderson's offer is accepted, this year's Thrissur Pooram would be the third such progressive parade ever held in India.
More From This Section
The first two were held by the Confederation of Tamilnadu Malayalee Associations, which used a stunning array of faux elephants during Onam festivals to the delight of audiences.
Anderson saw the faux elephants and said she was "blown away".