Experts Condemn Chitwan Festival’s Elephant ‘Games’ as Police Rip Down Appeal to End Abuse

Chitwan – Just days before the 2025 Chitwan Elephant Festival is set to begin, local authorities have torn down a PETA billboard featuring an appeal from actor and producer John Abraham to “Cancel the Elephant Games.” 

But PETA is keeping up the pressure, with animal organisations from around the world now condemning the festival’s cruel games, in which elephants are beaten to force them to perform for tourists. The organisations are calling on festival leaders and Nepalese authorities to cancel the games now, before more elephants suffer at the hands of abusive trainers.

More than a dozen organisations have submitted letters to Nepalese authorities and their countries’ ambassadors to Nepal in support of shutting down this exploitative event. 

In a statement, Voices for Asian Elephants Founder & Managing Director Sangita Iyer writes, “Today’s travelers are increasingly rejecting experiences built on animal suffering.

There are countless humane and culturally rich alternatives that can celebrate Nepal’s traditions without causing harm.” And Action for Elephants UK Founder Maria Mossman writes, “The use of elephants in such festivals is inherently cruel and deeply unnatural” adding, “These majestic animals are subjected to significant physical and psychological stress in the name of entertainment…we respectfully urge you to cancel this year’s Elephant Festival.”

Elephants are thinking, feeling beings who are “among the most social and intelligent animals on earth,” says Elephants in Japan Founder & Executive Director Ulara Nakagawa. “They feel joy, grief, and love.” 

Earlier this month, PETA released footage of the last festival, where mahouts are seen beating and jabbing wounded and scarred elephants on their heads, faces, and ears – even with veterinarians standing close by. PETA’s previously released footage and widespread public outcry paused the abusive elephant “games” for four years, but some of the games returned in 2024 with the same suffering and abuse – despite the festival’s misleading claims that it was updated to be “elephant friendly.”

In nature, elephants live in matriarchal herds, protect one another, and share mothering responsibilities for the herds’ babies. But elephants in captivity are deprived of everything natural and important to them. 

“Such cruelty not only causes immense suffering, but also damages Nepal’s international reputation,” says Taiwan’s Kindness to Animals Association Executive Director Peter Pan. “We believe that abolishing elephant performances will not only restore international credibility, but also inject new confidence into Nepal’s tourism industry.”

The full list of organisations that have joined PETA’s efforts, as well as all of the letters and statements, are available upon request.