Paul McCartney Calls for Release of Abused Elephant

Mary McCartney/MPL Communications Ltd.Paul McCartney continues to show his support for a variety of humanitarian and animal rights campaigns around the world.  He's joined an initiative launched by the Indian branch of PETA -- People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals -- seeking the release from captivity of a young elephant that reportedly has been abused by its handler.

Sir Paul has written a letter to India's Foreign Minister, Dr. Patangrao Shripatrao Kadam, to ask for his help in seeing that the elephant, named Sunder, is set free.

Macca's message reads, "I have seen photographs of young Sunder, the elephant kept alone in a shed...and put in chains with spikes.  Years of his life have been ruined by keeping him and abusing him in this way and enough is enough.  I most respectfully call on you…to get Sunder out."

According to PETA India, the handler injured elephant's eye with a poker-like weapon, and is now on the run in attempt to avoid arrest.  Sunder reportedly is being kept in a dark shed and can hardly move because of the chains on his legs.

PETA is asking people to join the fight to free Sunder by emailing messages to Kadam.  For more information about Sunder's plight, visit PETAIndia.com.

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