Kapil Sharma urges fans to support elephant rescue campaign

Kapil Sharma has urged his fans and friends to support a campaign launched by PETA to free a 14-year-old elephant named Sunder, who is chained and abused.

Mumbai: Stand-up comedian Kapil Sharma has urged his fans and friends to support the FreeSunder, a campaign launched by PETA to free a 14-year-old elephant named Sunder, who is chained and kept in a temple in Kolhapur.

Kapil took to microblogging website Twitter and asked fans to support the campaign. "Are you aware that a young baby elephant Sunder is held captive in Kolhapur by his owner. He is chained, beaten and is starving. Very sad," Kapil tweeted Sunday. PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) conducted an undercover investigation in December 2013, which showed Sunder as being chained in two legs. A video posted online shows Sunder`s body with visible signs of abuse and a severe injury to his right eye. The video was supported by celebrities including Paul McCartney, Pamela Anderson, Amitabh Bachchan, Madhuri Dixit and Jacqueline Fernandez. PETA has now moved the petition to Bombay High Court after orders by the Maharashtra Forest Department to release Sunder into a sanctuary were not followed. "The court hearing is on Jan 28. I am praying for his freedom. All my friends, please support this cause FreeSunder," Kapil later tweeted. Bollywood actor Arjun Rampal even wrote a letter to Maharashtra state Forests Minister Patangrao Kadam urging him to take immediate action to ensure that Sunder goes to a sanctuary from the Kolhapur temple. He hand-delivered the letter to the minister Jan 20. "Enroute to meet the forest minister Dr. Kadam to FreeSunder, the elephant who is captive in a temple in Kolhapur. Fingers crossed," Arjun had tweeted Jan 20. The next day Arjun again took to the microblogging website and posted a tweet with Sunder`s picture: "Chained with spikes Sunder and considering we worship Lord Ganesha, this is how we treat elephants. FreeSunder."