Bollywood stars join PETA rally for abused elephant Joymala’s release

Forest officials in Tamil Nadu reportedly told the Assam team the animal cannot be returned without Chief Minister M. K. Stalin’s approval.

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Bollywood stars and celebrities from the world of music, sports and fashion have joined a social media campaign by the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India for the release of Joymala, a female elephant from Assam abused in a Tamil Nadu temple.

The campaign aims at sending Joymala – renamed Jeymalyatha in Tamil Nadu – to a rescue centre for immediate specialised care and an unchained life in the company of other elephants.

The celebrities who have lent their support to the #FreeElephantJeymalyatha campaign on Twitter include Madhuri Dixit, Raveena Tandon, Arjun Rampal, Aftab Shivdasani, Rahul Dev, Genelia Deshmukh, Sunny Leone, Papon, Kunal Kapur, Pooja Bhatt, Atul Kasbekar, Adah Sharma and Kavita Kaushik.

PETA India recently submitted a veterinary inspection report of Joymala conducted on July 27 to the Forest Department officials in Tamil Nadu and Assam. The report says the elephant’s current mahout used pliers on her skin, even in front of inspectors. The mahout forbade the inspectors from taking photographs and video footage, but they still managed to document her condition.

The inspection was conducted after two separate viral videos emerged, one in June 2022 and the other in February 2021, of Joymala being beaten so badly by different mahouts that she can be heard screaming. The beatings occurred in the sanctum sanctorum of the Krishnan Kovil temple near Srivilliputhur Nachiyar Thirukovil.

“The stars’ appeal to Tamil Nadu and Assam officials to rescue elephant Joymala follows that of caring people from across the nation who are concerned for her well-being and safety,” PETA India vice-president Sachin Bangera said.