Charity axes Martin Clunes as a patron amid him climbing an elephant
Animal charity axes Martin Clunes as a patron amid outrage at him climbing onto an elephant by its ears and riding it for his TV show
- Climbed on elephant for ITV show Martin Clunes: My Travels and Other Animals
- Born Free has now said the actor is no longer a patron of the animal charity
- It said it had ‘always been opposed’ to the exploitation of captive wild animals
Animal rights charity Born Free has axed Martin Clunes as a patron after he climbed onto an elephant by its ears in order to ride it for his TV show.
The Doc Martin star, 57, climbed on the animal’s back as part of the ITV show Martin Clunes: My Travels and Other Animals – despite being a patron of Born Free.
The charity campaign to keep animals in the wild where they belong and directly opposes elephant rides.
The chief of the charity, Howard Jones said: ‘We can confirm that, with much regret, Martin Clunes is no longer a patron.
The charity campaign to keep animals in the wild where they belong and directly opposes elephant rides
‘Born Free has always been opposed to the exploitation of captive wild animals for entertainment and human interactions, including riding elephants.’
Clunes is also a patron of Animal Care in Egypt and a celebrity supporter of The Dog Rescue Federation.
Campaigners have demanded that the ITV show be pulled and removed from its online catch-up service.
Yesterday Born Free president Will Travers hit out at the star after the clip broadcast on Thursday.
He told the Mirror: ‘It is deeply unfortunate that Martin Clunes, while exploring the relationship between captive Asian elephants and the people of Nepal, rode a captive elephant… thereby reinforcing the perception that this is an acceptable activity.’
In the clip, Clunes can be see pulling on the elephants’ ears as he stands on his trunk in order to get on to his back.
He then rides on top of the animal with a worker at the elephant park, sitting on a wooden saddle.
The Doc Martin star, 57, climbed on the animal’s back in Nepal as part of the ITV show Martin Clunes: My Travels and Other Animals – despite being a patron of Born Free
Clunes himself admitted he was concerned about elephant rides on the show, saying: ‘I am not sure it’s a fitting occupation for the largest land animal on the planet’
Clunes himself admitted he was concerned about elephant rides on the show, saying: ‘I am not sure it’s a fitting occupation for the largest land animal on the planet.’
The charity Save the Asian Elephants also blasted Clunes for his actions.
They told the Mirror: ‘It’s so regrettable that anyone as prominent as Martin Clunes, with a creditable animal welfare profile and a large public following, should be shown on prime time TV clambering on a captive Asian elephant with its mahout, with apparent approval, and the observation that the elephant’s ok in such tourism.’
MailOnline has contacted Born Free, a representative for Martin Clunes and ITV.
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