Elephant rides at Jaipur’s Amer Fort are back in the spotlight after Bhagyashree voiced her support for ending the practice. Backing World Animal Protection’s campaign, the Maine Pyar Kiya actress has called for an end to the cruelty inflicted on elephants in the name of tourism.




‘We shouldn’t promote animal suffering to entertain tourists’

Bhagyashree, who shares a deep connection with Rajasthan, says the state has so much to offer that it does not need to resort to animal cruelty to promote tourism. “My mom-in-law is from Jodhpur, and my father-in-law is from Sardarshahar in Churu. We keep coming to the state, and this association has helped me learn more about Rajasthan. So, it hurts me more. Awareness is the key to bringing about change. So, I chose to speak about the issue. Rather than promoting animal suffering to entertain tourists, we should showcase the real Rajasthan. For far too long, cruelty has been justified in the name of tourism promotion, even though Rajasthan—and India as a whole—has so much authentic heritage to offer. Amer Fort itself has a rich legacy that deserves to be the true attraction,” she shares. She adds, “Rajasthan ke pass toh real stories hain, this state has so much to offer in terms of history, heritage, monuments. It has stories of real heroes like Maharana Pratap, and it does not require atrocities against poor, voiceless animals to promote it.”




‘Animal rides are simply not right’

Talking about her childhood memories of animal rides, she tells us, “As a child, I found animal rides fascinating—whether on camels, horses, or elephants. Back then, I didn’t know what these animals endure during training or what they go through to serve human purposes. Once you become aware of that reality, you can’t help but feel that it isn’t right. The more I read about them, especially about elephants, I realised that elephants are sentient and very intelligent beings. They have strong memories, move in a pack, and share deep family bonds. They protect their calves just as fiercely as humans protect their children.”



She adds, “I have been to various sanctuaries like Kanha, Gir, Ranthambore in India and Maasai Mara in Kenya, where I have seen animals in their natural habitat. It’s a different world to see animals of different species roaming and living in harmony. They don’t attack each other unless they are hungry or threatened. They do so only to survive. If they become violent, there is always a reason behind it. When we cross their boundaries or push them beyond their limits, forcing them to turn violent, we end up blaming these creatures for their aggression.”




‘Why can’t we coexist in harmony?’

Recalling an incident, she says, “A few years ago, I visited the Jawai Bandh Leopard Conservation Reserve and was pleasantly surprised to see local tribal communities moving about with their cattle without any fear, even as we explored the sanctuary. Being inquisitive, I asked a local shepherd how they could roam so freely without fearing leopards. He coolly replied, ‘Animals are intelligent enough not to attack unless they are hungry or feel threatened by us. We have lived alongside these wild animals for generations and understand each other’s boundaries very well.’ I was stunned to hear this from a local who may not be highly educated but understands the ethology and behavioural patterns of these animals remarkably well. They respect each other’s space and coexist in harmony. So why can’t we do the same?”




‘Hope the state government expedites the process to end elephant rides’

Shubhobroto Ghosh, Wildlife Campaign Manager at World Animal Protection, India, says, “It is of cardinal importance that people in influential positions, like Bhagyashree, speak out on socially important issues such as animal cruelty and ethical tourism. By showing her commitment to ending elephant rides in India, Bhagyashree joins a growing list of influencers who have expressed their intention to help voiceless animals and make a lasting change in animal rights and animal welfare. We sincerely hope that the Rajasthan government will take her plea seriously and expedite the process to end elephant rides at Amer Fort in Jaipur.”