Cricketer Rohit Sharma has called for better treatment of elephants and banning of animal circuses in a commercial shoot for an animal rights organisation.
Appearing in a new advertisement for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals India, Rohit said, "Animals deserve respect, not to be imprisoned in small enclosures and forced to perform degrading and meaningless tricks out of fear of punishment."
"We cricketers love our sport, and we willingly participate, but animals in circuses are beaten into performing against their will," he said.
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Peering into the camera with fierce determination, Rohit's face appeared scarred by an ankus with the caption saying, "Try to Relate to Elephants' Fate - Ban Animal Circuses."
Following a nine-month investigation of circuses by a team that included representatives from PETA and its sister organisation Animal Rahat, the Animal Welfare Board of India, a statutory body operating under the Ministry of Environment and Forests, decided to stop the registration of elephants used to perform in circuses. However, this decision has yet to be implemented, the PETA said in a release.
