Zeenat Aman calls for wildlife protection in film industry after heartbreaking encounter

Zeenat Aman, the legendary actress adored by millions, recently took to Instagram to share a poignant message advocating for the welfare of wildlife, particularly elephants. For the unversed, on February 11, 2024, Zeenat Aman took to Instagram to celebrate her first anniversary since debuting on the platform. And since then the veteran has been entertaining fans through her social media.

In her heartfelt post, Zeenat recounted a distressing incident she witnessed on the set of a film, where a wild elephant was subjected to discomfort and exploitation. "I was brought to tears recently when I arrived on set to find an elderly, domestic elephant on the scene," she revealed. "She was standing on the burning asphalt, bejewelled and bedecked… and she stayed there all day as the cameras rolled. 

She further said,

The plight of animals, both domestic and wild, has always distressed me. I do not believe that any wild animal belongs in captivity, especially not an animal as perceptive, intelligent and emotional as an elephant. From the little I have learnt about this species, I know that they are highly sentient, social animals. To keep them in captivity is to willingly support cruelty. It is my sincere and urgent appeal to my colleagues and compatriots in the film industry to avoid bringing wild animals onto set at all costs. We are so lucky that India hosts the majority of the Asian elephant population in the world, and that this species is our National Heritage Animal. We are also blessed to have numerous organisations in India that work towards the welfare and conservation of this incredible animal. I am sharing a few resources from such organisations on my stories. I will be elated if you peruse them.

Concluding the same she wrote, 

My concern for wildlife is an old story - please swipe to see a snippet from 1974 - but it is only now that I am in a position to make more concerted appeals on these matters. And since I could not bear to pose with the beautiful ele that was subject to the chaos of our set, here is a picture of me with ‘my’ elephants that I have collected over the years. In honour of this sentiment, today I would like to hear about your favourite wildlife encounters! Please leave a comment, and remember that the operative word here is “wild”. No comments about captive wild animals please! This includes performing monkeys, bottle-feeding tigers, talking parrots and all the rest. Signing off with hope for a kinder world where non-human species are afforded the dignity they deserve. ZA 🌺

Acknowledging India's rich biodiversity and the need for conservation efforts, Zeenat encouraged her followers to educate themselves about wildlife welfare organizations and support their initiatives. She also invited her fans to share their favorite wildlife encounters, emphasizing the significance of encounters with animals in their natural habitat.

In addition to her environmental activism, Zeenat Aman continues to captivate audiences with her timeless charm and talent. Fans eagerly anticipate her upcoming project, "Bun Tikki," directed by renowned filmmaker Manish Malhotra, where she will share the screen with esteemed actors Shabana Azmi and Abhay Deol.