‘Come Together’: Join Sir Paul McCartney and PETA India’s Call to Free Abused Elephant Joymala

International music legend Sir Paul McCartney has sent an urgent letter to Bhupender Yadav, India’s union cabinet minister for environment, forest, and climate change, requesting that he take immediate action to send abused elephant Joymala (aka Jeymalyatha) to a suitable rescue center. The letter is part of PETA India’s campaign to rescue Joymala and comes after two videos, which went viral, showed separate incidents in which she screamed in pain while being beaten ruthlessly by handlers, or mahouts.

A video compilation of Joymala’s abuse can be viewed here:

McCartney noted that while the videos of her beatings are heartbreaking, “equally as heartbreaking is that this social, intelligent animal is still being forced to live in solitary confinement.” In nature, female elephants live in a family herd.

In the letter, McCartney also wrote the following:

I have considered India a spiritual place ever since I travelled there in the 1960s. I was impressed by India’s cultural love for animals. I know India reveres elephants, its national heritage animal, but cruelty to animals happens everywhere, even in India. What reflects on a country’s values is how that cruelty is addressed. That’s why I am confident that action will be taken to send sorely abused elephant Jeymalyatha (Joymala) to a suitable rescue centre where she can receive the specialized care she needs for her psychological wounds, and can live unchained and in the company of others of her kind. .… I trust you agree that Jeymalyatha has suffered more than enough, and that she deserves to spend the rest of her time on this Earth … away from her abusive trainers, rehabilitating, and with others of her kind.

Previously, PETA India submitted a veterinary inspection report on Joymala’s condition, based on a July 27 inspection, to forest department officials in the states of Tamil Nadu and Assam. Joymala is kept in Tamil Nadu and is from Assam. The report points out that her mahout at that time 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.

A bevy of stars from Indian films, music, sports, and fashion took to social media to join PETA India’s call to the Tamil Nadu and Assam governments to send Joymala to a rescue center for immediate specialized care, where she can begin to recover from the psychological trauma of sustained abuse.

Take Action for Joymala 

Join PETA India, McCartney, and people around the world who are calling for Joymala to be sent to a reputable rescue center, where she can receive the proper care—and respect—she deserves.