Timeline Photos

12th AUGUST IS INTERNATIONAL ELEPHANT DAY!

Our contributing guest writer and ACRES board member, Alpana Ahuja?, is an artist who has painted a series of paintings titled ‘Padhchinh’ or ‘footprint’ in Sanskrit, to raise funds and awareness for the rescued elephants at Wildlife SOS: www.alpanaahuja.com

***

“My journey with elephants started some years ago when I set out to help Wildlife SOS, India, by painting some of their rescued animals for a calendar.

The elephants were the toughest for me just because of their sheer size!

I painted them last, but when I did I just could not stop and four years later I’m still painting them! They taught me the true meaning of the word ‘Muse’. They made me a real artist, one so obsessed with the subject that I studied all angles, lights, shadows and even their footprints.

I watched them in the water, in the dust and mixing the two, making slush and splattering it over themselves. They would bathe and promptly throw dust on themselves (and everything around). We bonded over these dust baths and cooling mud packs!

They constantly ate and splashed. I fed them treats, a watermelon was crushed in seconds! They would delicately even pick a chickpea from my palm! Once my hand was accidentally pulled instead of the fruit I had placed on the trunk and I got a shock when I was yanked up! But I was gently dropped and the wise eyes just looked calmly at me.

My thoughts go to those elephants who are lined up on a street, decked out in finery, with chalk drawn decorations on their delicate skins (despite thick hides they get sunburnt easily) waiting for people to ride them. Carrying heavy loads on hot tarred roads, when their feet are designed for jungle walks only. And their backs are not meant to carry heavy loads either.

Elephants are the largest land mammals and yet completely vegetarian. They have strong family ties and complex relationships too. If you really wish to help elephants then say no to rides. Say no to Ivory because it’s demand that fuels the supply.”

***

#ACRES #Celebrates #Elephants #InternationalElephantDay #EndAnimalCruelty

#SayNoToIvory #SayNoToElephantRides #EthicalTourism

Source: https://www.facebook.com/ACRESasia/photos/a.223077136522.136..

Tweet

ACRES

ACRES (Animal Concerns Research & Education Society) is a pioneering Singapore-based charity and Institution of Public Character, founded by Singaporeans in 2001 with the aim of promoting animal welfare.

ACRES has six focus areas: Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation, Wildlife Crime Investigation, Zoo Animal Welfare, Humane Education, Community Outreach and Promoting Cruelty-Free Living.

More Articles   |   Website