Celina Jaitly Acts for Elephants in Captivity

Celina Jaitly is celebrated for her beauty, but it's her compassion for animals that has helped PETA raise awareness of the abuse of captive elephants, an issue which is close to the actor's heart. In an ad shot by ace photographer Rakesh Shrestha, a chained Celina put herself in the elephants' place to illustrate how elephants suffer in captivity.

Celina has taken up the cause of Indian elephants who are forced to "entertain" people and are cruelly confined at various national parks and zoos across India as well as the European Union. Celina recently hosted a benefit in Switzerland which raised 1 million Swiss francs to help captive elephants. Last year, Celina's work for elephants landed her on the cover of the August issue of Maxim magazine.

Captive elephants are separated from their families as babies and are sentenced to a lifetime of boredom, loneliness and even abuse. Working elephants spend the entire day – and much of the night – walking on hot asphalt roads and breathing in exhaust fumes. Forced to negotiate city traffic, elephants are sometimes struck by cars and trucks and pose a threat to public safety when they rebel and go on rampages. An elephant named Laxmi was hit by a speeding tanker and suffered a broken leg and spinal injuries before dying a day later. Another elephant was frightened by a firecracker and fell on a car. The mahout fled the scene, and the elephant rampaged. According to media reports, an entire platoon of the State Reserve Police Force and 60 police personnel were called in to subdue her.

"After coming to Mumbai and visiting other parts of India, I have seen so many elephants who are kept in such bad conditions in captivity. I think PETA has taken a very good step, and I am proud to be associated with this cause. … I know my fans will also support me in this cause", says Celina.

Want to do your part to help animals? Click here to ask the Minister of Environment and Forests to ban elephants from circuses!