End to elephant cruelty: Circuses charged for keeping animals in inhuman condition
Central Zoo Authority finds substantial evidence of cruelty and abuse against the elephants in circuses.
In Short
- MoEFCC deregisters 21 of 22 registered circuses in India.
- Substantial evidence of cruelty, abuse against elephants in circuses found.
- Circuses cannot make animals perform without having proper facilities.
No more elephants kicking footballs or standing on two legs in circuses across the country as the ministry of environment, forests and climate change (MoEFCC) has cancelled registration of seven such operators for keeping the animal in 'inhuman' condition.
So far, MoEFCC has deregistered 21 of 22 registered circuses in India under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, banning the training, exhibition and use of elephants for performances.
Even the sole registered circus is being evaluated. The Central Zoo Authority (CZA) - the Central government body responsible for oversight of zoos and captive wildlife animals-found 'gross violations' of the Zoo Rules, 2009 and the guidelines issued by CZA, following which it has cancelled registration of seven circus operators under section 38H(6) of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
These operators are Empire Circus, Great Golden Circus, Ajanta Circus, Great Apollo Circus, Kohinoor Circus, Natraj Circus and Raj Kamal Circus. Earlier this year, five other circuses were also de-registered. The evaluation team of CZA found substantial evidence of cruelty and abuse against the elephants.
WHERE ARE THE CIRCUSES GOING WRONG?
The evaluation was done along with animal rights NGOs and veterinarians. According to the CZA, circuses cannot make animals perform without having proper facilities as prescribed under the Recognition of Zoo Rules, 2009.
READ | Shaktimaan wasn't alone: Here's how countless animals suffer at the hands of humans
This includes proper housing with adequate space, waste management, no display of sick animals, ensuring the animals are not stressed, and given proper medical care. But all the circuses evaluated were found violating the norms.
CZA's member secretary DN Singh confirmed to Mail Today, "Based on a series of investigations, deregistration process was carried out. The investigations show that the animals were being maintained in circuses in cruel conditions and were tortured to extract performances.
Some of the circus owners even submitted morphed photographs to us in a bid to claim that animals were kept well," said Singh, adding that CZA has adopted a virtually fullproof method to shut down circuses based on solid evidence such as videos and has also directed the chief wildlife wardens of states to rehabilitate the elephants from derecognised circuses.
"We along with CZA went to all the circus to check the status of wild animals and found that they were in deplorable condition. The elephants could hardly move because of injuries and pain. They are chained and even banned pointed metal sticks were used to train animals by hurting them," said Prashanth V Achariya, campaign manager, Federation of Indian Animal Protection Organisations (FIAPO). FIAPO has been running 'end to circus suffering' campaign against torture of animals in circus.
"Our finding revealed that the elephants were suffering from infectious diseases, permanent physical and mental disorders, he said.