Film stars in India have joined a campaign to end the use of real elephants in Bollywood films.

It’s estimated that there are around 2,600 captive elephants in India, used for tourism and entertainment.

Animal rights group PETA India says that captive elephants are kept chained, isolated and controlled with weapons, and that in films, AI elephants or robots should be used instead.

John Abraham, an Indian actor and producer, agrees. He said: “Elephants shouldn’t suffer for our entertainment.”

In 2021, India’s Animal Welfare Board ruled that it’s “advisable” to avoid using real animals to “prevent unnecessary pain and suffering”, and the number of elephants used in films has fallen.

Is it ever okay?

PETA investigators report that globally, film animals are often kept in “dismal” conditions and trained in “abusive” ways. It says: “They’re treated like props, often forced to perform confusing tricks on cue until they’re considered too old, too sick, or simply no longer profitable.”

Some actors, including Guardians of the Galaxy star Bradley Cooper, have acted with their real-life pets in their films. The US Animal Protection Agency has guidelines to help film-makers work with animals in a responsible way.