Action star Jackie Chan has signed a petition being circulated by Peta (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals), urging the Thai government to stop the torture of baby elephants.

The ritual, called phaajaan, involves beating and starving the elephants to make them subservient. Chan joins a list of Hollywood stars like Olivia Newton-John and Claire Danes, and Nobel Prize winner John Coetzee. Australian model Imogen Bailey recently posed for a Peta ad wearing nothing but shackles, to draw attention to the elephants' plight. Let's hope Jackie takes a different approach.