New Delhi (NVI): Delhi Metro has joined hands with Wildlife SOS to promote “Refuse to Ride” campaign which aims at creating awareness among people about how elephants are trained for giving rides to tourists and what tourists can do to help protect them.
Delhi Metro Pink Line sports signage to conserve and protect elephants, a part of the Wildlife SOS “Refuse to Ride” campaign.
The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) ferries nearly 1.5 million passengers each day. It is now providing passengers an educational ride promoting elephant conservation and protection. The Pink Line metro coaches now carry campaign messaging “Help end the abuse. Refuse to ride elephants”.
In order to empower the public and tourists to combat illegal trafficking of elephants, the campaign resource website www.refuseToRide.org background information on how the demand of elephant rides by tourists creates a demand for brutal exploitation of blind, lame and sick elephants.
The campaign encourages responsible tourism – to bringing positive change in eco-tourism and elephant conservation.
Kartick Satyanarayan, Co-founder & CEO of Wildlife SOS says, “Public awareness is critical as not everyone is aware of the truth behind how elephants are trained to give rides to tourists. The Refuse to Ride Campaign is aimed at educating the public to help them understand how they can make conscious decisions to prevent illegal trafficking of elephants and to support elephant conservation in India. We are grateful to Delhi Metro Rail Corporation for supporting this campaign.”
Vedant Mittal, DMRC Operations Head (North), said, “The Refuse to Ride campaign provides a platform to educate people about the plight of elephants in India. The DMRC is pleased to support this noble initiative of Wildlife SOS.”
Geeta Seshamani, Secretary, Wildlife SOS said, “If people understand the brutal and cruel training that goes into making elephants rideable, they will think again before riding a blind, lame or sick elephants.”
