London, July 31 : Sir Paul McCartney has joined an international battle to free a baby elephant that has been confined to a temple in Kerala, India, after being captured from a forest in the south-west part of the country.

The former Beatle reportedly wants the Indian Government to intervene, asking officials to step in and save the elephant after seeing few distressing images of his many injuries.

Sunder, the baby elephant, which is being held in a temple in Kerala, is in a desperate need of treatment for a serious eye injury after being jabbed with a metal poker by his boy handler.

"I have seen photographs of young Sunder, the elephant kept alone in a shed at Jyotiba Temple, and put in chains with spikes. I appeal to you to do what is right here, and get Sunder post haste to rehabilitation in the forest," the Daily Mail quoted McCartney, as saying.

"Years of his life have been ruined by keeping him and abusing him in this way, and enough is enough. I most respectfully call on you to use your authority to get Sunder out, placed in your protective custody, and eventually integrated into a herd in the forest," he added.

In a letter to an Indian Government Minister, the music legend warned that the `world is watching'.

Supporters of the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) discovered the elephant's plight, the paper said. (ANI)