Two different medical reports of same Rambo animals raise questions over confiscation

While one medical report (dated May 28, 2016) of the four elephants, prepared by veterinarian Dr ND Deshmukh of Maharashtra Animal Husbandry Department, points out various health problems in the elephants (like visual impairment, swollen joints, gangrene of the tail, infected internal ears, torn ear pinnas from the use of sharp torture devices, and foot rot, cracked nails and obesity) the other report (dated June 22, 2016) made by Dr AM Shinde (also from Maharashtra Animal Husbandry Department), states that “All the elephants are in good condition of health and do not show any evidence of disease or infection at the time of examination.”

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Challenging the authenticity of the reports made after the confiscation, Sujith Dilip, owner of Rambo Circus, said, “As per rules, on the day of confiscation, a team of vets should have examined the animals in front of the police and the owner of the circus. The health problems are pointed out in black and white on paper, which is signed by the owner before the confiscation. In our case, nothing was done. They simply seized the animals and left, and later came up with their versions of health problems. They have been making false health claims on social media too. Only Anar, who is old, has a cataract problem.”

It was on May 26 that the Sangvi Police had seized 22 animals of Rambo Circus, following a complaint from the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI). While the dogs and elephants were returned to the circus on June 22, the horses and a pony were handed back on June 26.

Dilip alleged that during the time when the elephants were kept with the NGOs, they weren’t fed properly and the fresh reports of the dogs and the elephants show a low hemoglobin level.

“They even removed the tail hair of the elephants and are claiming that their tails have gangrene. The three horses and one pony have become so weak that their ribs are visible; they even have marks of insect bites all over the body. Now we are treating all our animals,” he added.

Last week, Naresh Kadyan, AWBI Master Trainer and Chairman of People For Animals, Haryana, had filed a complaint to the online grievance cell of the Department of Agriculture Research and Education in which he claimed, how in order to make the confiscation of the Rambo Circus animals appear genuine, the “NGOs hired doctors to manipulate medical reports of the animals that claimed animals suffering from various diseases as well as in stress and shock”.

Kadyan’s complaint reads, “Medical reports were manipulated by the shadow activists to snatch the private property for financial gain and to attract donations from the international community. Animal Welfare Party demands immediate suspension and cancellation of registration of those tainted veterinarians, who prepared false medical reports of the animals of Rambo circus.”

Interestingly, the medical report of the 14 dogs, examined by Shinde twice, gives different pictures too. The first report (dated June 2, 2016) points out that all the dogs suffer from various health problems.

The second report (dated June 22) says that all the 14 dogs are in sound condition except one. Commenting on the drastic difference in the health assessment stated in the two reports, Dr Shinde said, “If an animal is given proper treatment, his health is bound to improve.”