Mumbai, Sep 10 - People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has awarded biscuit maker Parle Products and ad agency Everest Brand Solutions for making a mint ad that highlights the plight of animals who are incarcerated at zoos.

The animal rights organisation has commended the two companies for the 'Xhale Mint' commercial, with a Glitterbox Award - given every year by PETA for exceptional animal friendly advertisements.

'The best way to help animals is to conserve their natural habitats and to boycott zoos and other attractions which exploit them. For that matter the new Parle mint ad is as refreshing as is the mint itself,' Anuradha Sawhney, PETA chief functionary, said in a statement released here Thursday.

The advertisement shows penguins and a polar bear shedding tears as they remember the days when they lived in their natural homes.