Lauren Gottlieb is seen here chained & shackled to a two-meter tall inflatable elephant, in a new awareness poster for PeTA. The Jhalak Dikhla Jaa star help up a placard that read: Unchain Elephants – Ban Animal Circuses.
In an official statement Lauren said, “When I dance, I know I am free and happy, and that’s what brings out the best in me and my performances. We are all born free. I feel that animals also have the right to be in their natural habitat and not where they are put on stage with chains and shackles for human gratification. When I think of animals being used in circuses for human entertainment, I think of slavery. Animals love their freedom just like we do, but circuses steal their freedom away and they are forced to live like a prisoner for no crime. I urge people to discourage this act of cruelty by not going to circuses.”
She went on to say, “Elephants and other animals in circuses are subjected to chronic confinement, physical abuse and psychological torment. Whips and other weapons – including ankuses, which are heavy, sharp steel-tipped rods – are used to inflict pain on animals and beat them into submission. Elephants perform confusing, unnatural tricks – such standing on their heads – not because they want to but out of fear of violent punishment.”
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Pix: Yogen Shah for MissMalini