INDIAN CIRCUS ANIMALS

July 23, 2005

THE TELEGRAPH, KOLKATA| Sunday, July 17, 2005 |

Of loophole laws & passing the buck

PET PASSION - NILANJANAA

A tiger in the Sariska reserve. (AFP)

This week ended on a happy note with Laxman and Sita, tigers of Olympic Circus,

on their way to the rescue centre in Madarihat. They were part of the entourage

of 11 tigers, two lions, two bears and a monkey living in crammed cages for 24

hours for the past few years in a farmhouse in Dankuni.

In Oct 1998, the government banned live performances by five wild animal species

(tigers, lions, monkeys, panthers and bears) in circuses, and instructed chief

wildlife wardens across India to cancel ownership certificates for these. Circus

owners would have to hand over the animals to the government, which would place

them in five rescue centres across India. Since the government had not taken

into account the number of banned animals in circuses across India, soon the

five rescue centres got filled up.

That's when the CZA (Central Zoo Authority) came out with an amendment to the

notification stating that circus owners were not allowed to cart the circus

animals around in cages and they would have to be kept in a fixed place with

proper enclosures, food and veterinary supervision.

But these instructions were not completely followed for the animals of Olympic

Circus whose health kept deteriorating with each passing day. Some came close to

losing their eyesight, others had serious health problems, one tiger was

afflicted with cancer and Ram, a 15-year-old lion, died. PETA India intervened

and decided to help these animals.

Provisions were made for six cages to transport the animals, the rest of the

seven cages would be provided by the CZA. It has taken seven long years before

Laxman and Sita could embark on their journey to freedom. How much longer will

it take for the remaining (nine tigers, a monkey and two bears) to walk into the

wild again?

The plight of India's tigers has been in the news recently after reports of the

animals disappearing from the Sariska reserve triggered a national outrage. The

gravity of the situation was underlined by an appeal by the United Nations

asking the Indian government to take steps to save tigers. Official estimates of

India's tiger population peg it at around 3,700 but conservationists say it

could be less than 2,000.

Wildlife campaigners allege that though poaching is illegal in India, hunting

remains popular because police tend to ignore expeditions by the rich, famous or

powerful thus hampering efforts to conserve protected animals. It is a major

criminal act to kill endangered wildlife in India and then hide the same in the

trunk of the car.

It's sad that even decades after the ban on hunting and so much awareness and

activism on wildlife conservation, there still exists a certain section of

people that hunts for pleasure. Between passing a law and implementing it lies

the loophole, through which escape for the accused is guaranteed.

With the arrest of Sansar Chand, India’s most-wanted poacher, accused of

butchering all the tigers in the prestigious Sariska reserve, there is hope for

wildlife conservationists. However, there are many others like him in this trade

who need to be caught, tried and jailed. The need of the hour is to implement

the wildlife laws, not merely pass the buck?

July 23, 2005

Now the target of cruelty is elephant.The circus companies treat this wild

animal with cruelty during training exhibition and performance.These are used in

circuses,Shows,for Begging,in processions and sports.They are not habitual of

walking on tarred roads. Many circuses are not registered with animal Welfare

Board of India Under Sec.22 of prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1960,

Performing Animals (Registration) Rules 2001.

The Circuses also run for Exotic aniamls and Birds,which donot fall under the

purview of Wildlife Protection Act.Most of the Hippopotamuses are made blind as

these huge animals can be controlled with ease if they can not see.I have

inspected Jumbo Circus,Komal Circus,Amar Circus,Rajkamal Circus etc. and found

that the Hippos are blind(Opacity of Eyes).It can be judged easily by showing

the food from distance.they will not respond.Please see that Circus people

should not speak any thing.They are shown the way with stick.My other friends

have also verified this thing.The CZA must set up a panel of Veterinarians

capable of treating wildlife along with representatives of NGOs involved in

Preventing Cruelty to Animals.

similarly Chimpanzees and Exotic Birds are brought in from illegal Suppliers.

Sandeep

On Sat, 23 Jul 2005 Ghosh wrote :

>THE TELEGRAPH, KOLKATA| Sunday, July 17, 2005 |

>Of loophole laws & passing the buck

>PET PASSION - NILANJANAA

>

>A tiger in the Sariska reserve. (AFP)

>This week ended on a happy note with Laxman and Sita, tigers of Olympic Circus,

on their way to the rescue centre in Madarihat. They were part of the entourage

of 11 tigers, two lions, two bears and a monkey living in crammed cages for 24

hours for the past few years in a farmhouse in Dankuni.

>

>In Oct 1998, the government banned live performances by five wild animal

species (tigers, lions, monkeys, panthers and bears) in circuses, and instructed

chief wildlife wardens across India to cancel ownership certificates for these.

Circus owners would have to hand over the animals to the government, which would

place them in five rescue centres across India. Since the government had not

taken into account the number of banned animals in circuses across India, soon

the five rescue centres got filled up.

>

>That's when the CZA (Central Zoo Authority) came out with an amendment to the

notification stating that circus owners were not allowed to cart the circus

animals around in cages and they would have to be kept in a fixed place with

proper enclosures, food and veterinary supervision.

>

>But these instructions were not completely followed for the animals of Olympic

Circus whose health kept deteriorating with each passing day. Some came close to

losing their eyesight, others had serious health problems, one tiger was

afflicted with cancer and Ram, a 15-year-old lion, died. PETA India intervened

and decided to help these animals.

>

>Provisions were made for six cages to transport the animals, the rest of the

seven cages would be provided by the CZA. It has taken seven long years before

Laxman and Sita could embark on their journey to freedom. How much longer will

it take for the remaining (nine tigers, a monkey and two bears) to walk into the

wild again?

>

>The plight of India's tigers has been in the news recently after reports of the

animals disappearing from the Sariska reserve triggered a national outrage. The

gravity of the situation was underlined by an appeal by the United Nations

asking the Indian government to take steps to save tigers. Official estimates of

India's tiger population peg it at around 3,700 but conservationists say it

could be less than 2,000.

>

>Wildlife campaigners allege that though poaching is illegal in India, hunting

remains popular because police tend to ignore expeditions by the rich, famous or

powerful thus hampering efforts to conserve protected animals. It is a major

criminal act to kill endangered wildlife in India and then hide the same in the

trunk of the car.

>

>It's sad that even decades after the ban on hunting and so much awareness and

activism on wildlife conservation, there still exists a certain section of

people that hunts for pleasure. Between passing a law and implementing it lies

the loophole, through which escape for the accused is guaranteed.

>

>With the arrest of Sansar Chand, India’s most-wanted poacher, accused of

butchering all the tigers in the prestigious Sariska reserve, there is hope for

wildlife conservationists. However, there are many others like him in this trade

who need to be caught, tried and jailed. The need of the hour is to implement

the wildlife laws, not merely pass the buck?

>

July 23, 2005

I strongly recommend that it is time that both animal welfare activists and

concerned masses just get down to common platform and work out the modalities

to fight for the wildanimals.

Every agency throughout the country hunting is on with every kind of wild

animals. Every season has its own wild animals exploited. We are few and the

area is large and hence the few should get down to some cooperation point and

make a massive effort. This is a must. We all know how bad the situation is

with all these information available , then why not the field works.

I deeply sugeest for this kind of cooperation to really make the best for them

otherwise we will be only in this writing phase while there are many Sansar

Chands very much active everywhere.

Pradeep Kumar nath,

VSPCA.

Sandeep kumar jain <jeevdaya wrote: