Mathura – Miss Universe Great Britain 2023, Jessica Page, visited the Wildlife SOS Elephant Conservation and Care Centre in Mathura for a conservation education tour and met the elephants under the NGO’s care. The delegation included other participants from the beauty pageant, making the visit a meaningful step in collaborating with celebrities regarding raising awareness about wildlife conservation.
Miss Universe Great Britain 2023, Jessica Page, a 27-year-old marketing manager and aspiring entrepreneur from Liverpool, England led the delegation that visited Wildlife SOS’ Elephant Conservation and Care Centre in Mathura, India. The visit was aimed at raising awareness against the abuse of Asian elephants in India.
The visitors also included Alisha Cowie, who holds the title of Miss International UK 2023, along with Harriotte Lane and Claudia Todd, who were finalists in the Miss Universe Great Britain 2023 pageant.
During their visit, the group had the opportunity to understand the history of rescued elephants at the facility. These majestic animals have been given a second chance at life free from abuse and cruelty, thanks to the dedicated efforts of the NGO.
The delegation engaged in informative sessions with the Wildlife SOS team of elephant care experts and veterinarians, gaining invaluable insights into the critical challenges faced by Asian elephants in India. Additionally, they also visited the Elephant Hospital Campus to understand the medical needs of rescued elephants. The team was enthused to support Wildlife SOS in their ‘Refuse to Ride’ campaign, which seeks to raise awareness amongst the citizens about the dark reality behind elephant ride attractions in India.
Jessica Page, Miss Universe Great Britain 2023, said, “Our visit to the Wildlife SOS Elephant Conservation & Care Centre was a profound experience. I urge everyone to help the organisation enforce their campaign – Refuse To Ride. I believe this cause is very important especially for tourists to provide a better life to the elephants. I call upon everyone to visit the centre and donate towards the cause.”
Geeta Seshamani, Co-founder & Secretary, Wildlife SOS, said, “We were honoured to have Jessica Page and her fellow participants visit our sanctuary. Their support and dedication to the cause of wildlife conservation are truly commendable, and their visit has helped shine a spotlight on the plight of Asian elephants in India.”
Kartick Satyanarayan, Co-founder & CEO, Wildlife SOS, said, “Few people realise that the captive elephants giving rides to tourists were once wild, and separated from their herds. The only way to train an elephant to enable tourist rides is through keeping the elephant in constant pain and fear. We, in collaboration with the Miss Universe Great Britain 2023 team, strongly encourage everyone to speak out against the mistreatment of these majestic animals.”
