Over 100 vets demand rules for prohibiting animals in circuses

The veterinarians mentioned a number of reasons why circuses should not be allowed to employ animals in their appeal: Elephants are chained, horses and camels are nearly always kept in one spot, dogs are imprisoned, and animals are physically mistreated in circuses to perform unnatural stunts that wreck havoc on their bodies and minds, they pointed out.

"Whether it's a lack of room and exercise, or a lack of social interaction, all of these elements add up to a lower quality of life than in the wild. All animals employed by Indian circuses have a low quality of life, as the findings of the Animal Welfare Board of India inspections and other monitoring of Indian circuses have proven "According to the plea.

The doctors also mentioned how elephants in Indian circuses are chained for up to 24 hours a day when they are not performing and must live nearly motionless in their own excrement, causing severe and even deadly foot issues in captive elephants. Elephants in the wild spend up to 75% of their time grazing and travel up to 50 kilometres each day. Camels and horses used in circuses suffer a similar fate, since they are confined to one location virtually continually, which can lead to lameness.

"Birds' flight feathers are removed to keep them from flying, and when they're not being used, they and other animals, including canines, are held in metal cages that can cause injuries and sores," they write.PETA India claimed it has consulted vets about the problems. "

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These vets are well-versed in animal welfare issues. PETA India supports these doctors in urging (Minister) Parshottam Rupala Ji to execute the central government's proposed ban on the usage of animals in circuses "Dr Manilal Valliyate, CEO of PETA India and a veterinarian, said in a statement.

PETA India, whose slogan includes the phrase "animals are not ours to employ for pleasure," fights speciesism, a human-centered worldview.

The Animal Welfare Board of India, a statutory agency created under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, recommended to the Central government in 2017 and 2019 that laws outlawing animals in circuses be passed. The Great Golden Circus, the only circus currently performing with protected wild animals – namely elephants – was recently decertified by the Central Zoo Authority. (IANS/PR)

(Keywords: Animals, Circus, PETA, Animals Act)