[/caption]Ernest Dempsey -Just a day ago, the heart-rending story of Paloh appeared in media. The baby elephant was being kept in a most terrible state of captivity at the Johor Zoo, Malaysia. Her feet were chained together so tightly that she could not sit or lie down for taking rest. She had to keep standing all the time and, in her desperation to move, she made small leaps with moving both feet at once. This shocking instance of cruelty was discovered by investigators who visited the zoo, and it created a wave of disgust against the management of the zoo responsible for Paloh’s abusive treatment.
Animal right advocates and caring souls raised a voice against the deplorable management at the zoo. Bloggers wrote on their blogs and a Facebook page was created to gather support for Paloh, demanding of the authorities to let her free from chains. Change.org hosted a petition, started by a Canadian citizen, asking the Malaysian Prime Minister to order Paloh’s release from chains and over 160 comments have appeared on that page so far while more than 1500 people signed the petition in no time. It was a spirit of freedom moving through the hearts of animal lovers and advocates of peace and respect that brought people from around the world to speak for this helpless baby animal which had been chained to earn money from people in the name of entertainment.
This evening, a Facebook page broke the good news of Paloh having been released from chains. While the news cheers up animal and freedom lovers, the Facebook page reveals another horrifying example of the zoo’s abuse of animals. Paloh has been let free only to join Jeli, a few-year-old elephant who has been kept chained to a log to make available for public display even in sizzling sun with little water available to him. The torture of these young elephants in the name of entertaining humans speaks volumes of the barbarian nature of their captives. The concerned Malaysian authorities, mainly the government body Perhilitan, which is responsible for maintaining standards of fair treatment, have pathetically failed in doing their job. And the price is being paid by baby animals which should be walking and running free in their natural habitat.
Supporters of Paloh and other elephants continue to speak up against the horrific abuse of these life forms that are close and friendly to us, and yet get pain inflicted on them by our own kind without any reason, except the regrettable cliche of “entertainment”. Is there anything entertaining in causing pain besides for the sadist? With Paloh’s temporary freedom, the hope of humanity free of cruelty and enslavement is revived among the caring hearts. Someday, there won’t be chains around our fellow life forms, but respect for the right to live free of pain and captivity imposed by us. Then, humanity can take pride in ruling the planet—with love and care.