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Film Star Joins PETA Effort to Save 'Pretty One'

For Immediate Release:
4 July, 2001

Contact:
Jason Baker (0) 98201 22602

Mumbai – When film superstar Aishwarya Rai heard about the plight of Baixinha, an endangered black rhino who is being sold for 'canned' hunting on a ranch outside Johannesburg, she immediately called, 'Cut!' on the set of her recent photo shoot. Rai took a break to pen a heartfelt letter on PETA's behalf to David Laylin, president of Speedtech Instruments in Great Falls, Virginia, who had decided to sell the chance to kill the rhino and mount her head on a wall after his attempts to breed her with an aging bull at her South African home failed.

Laylin plans to sell Baixinha, who is tame and fond of humans and whose name means 'pretty one', as a living target to be released and shot where she stands. Rai urged Laylin to reconsider the decision and asked him to release Baixinha, who is one of fewer than 500 michaeli rhinos remaining in the world, to a sanctuary where she can live the rest of her life in peace.

'The slaughter of an animal so magnificent and rare would be a terrible tragedy. Making it even more tragic is the fact that Baixinha is tame,' says Rai. 'She has no fear of humans and even takes food from a child's hand. How horrible to contemplate betraying this gentle animal's misplaced trust in humans.'

Last week, Charlize Theron, star of The Cider House Rules, The Devil's Advocate, and Men of Honor, sent a letter to Laylin, pleading with him to spare Baixinha's life. Aishwarya Rai's letter is attached.

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