Actress Pamela Anderson has fired off a letter begging an Indian politician to save an abused elephant which has been chained up at a temple.

The Baywatch star, a longtime animal rights campaigner, wept upon hearing the plight of Sunder, a baby elephant which has suffered cuts and injuries after allegedly being mistreated at the Jyotiba Temple, in the Indian state of Maharashtra.

She has urged Vinay Kore, a member of the legislative assembly of Maharashtra, to rescue the animal and send it to a sanctuary.

In the note, sent via People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, she writes, "I am in tears over the plight of the little elephant, Sunder, who you so kindly gave to Jyotiba Temple with the best of intentions... He is the age of one of my sons, and as sensitive as anyone's child."

"Sunder must be rescued without delay. May everyone, including me, count on you, please, to save this youngster?"

Anderson is the latest star who has called for Sunder to be freed from his chains - last month, Paul McCartney interrupted his rehearsals for the London Olympic Games opening ceremony to issue an urgent appeal to Indian authorities demanding action.

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