Simon de Trey - White ~ Photographer

DELHI'S LAST URBAN ELEPHANTS

25th May 2014, Yamuna River, New Delhi, India. An elephant ridden by a handler walks back towards the handler's makeshift camp on the Yamuna Bank near the ITO bridge at dusk

Elephant handlers (Mahouts) eke out a living in makeshift camps on the banks of the Yamuna River in New Delhi. They survive on a small retainer paid by the elephant owners and by giving rides to passers by. The owners keep all the money from hiring the animals out for religious festivals, events and weddings, they also are involved in the illegal trade of captive elephants. The living conditions and treatment of elephants kept in cities in North India is extremely harsh, the handlers use the banned 'ankush' or bullhook to control the animals through daily beatings, the animals have no proper shelters are forced to walk on burning hot tarmac and stand for hours with their feet chained together.

PHOTOGRAPH BY AND COPYRIGHT OF SIMON DE TREY-WHITE + 91 98103 99809
email: simon@simondetreywhite.com
Photographer in Delhi

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25th May 2014, Yamuna River, New Delhi, India. An elephant ridden by a handler walks back towards the handler's makeshift camp on the Yamuna Bank near the ITO bridge at dusk<br />
<br />
Elephant handlers (Mahouts) eke out a living in makeshift camps on the banks of the Yamuna River in New Delhi. They survive on a small retainer paid by the elephant owners and by giving rides to passers by. The owners keep all the money from hiring the animals out for religious festivals, events and weddings, they also are involved in the illegal trade of captive elephants. The living conditions and treatment of elephants kept in cities in North India is extremely harsh, the handlers use the banned 'ankush' or bullhook to control the animals through daily beatings, the animals have no proper shelters are forced to walk on burning hot tarmac and stand for hours with their feet chained together. <br />
<br />
PHOTOGRAPH BY AND COPYRIGHT OF SIMON DE TREY-WHITE + 91 98103 99809<br />
email: simon@simondetreywhite.com<br />
Photographer in Delhi