VSPCA/The Hindu/set caged birds free

[Guest guest]

Dear and Pradeep,

 

apart from the legal aspect and the cruelty of caging as such, I have a

question, which I wanted to post on aapn today anyway because yesterday,

when I picked up two cats for sterilization from a house, I saw two parrots

in a cage, I asked the lady why she is keeping these two caged, she said,

that one of them had been falling from the nest when it was small and they

had picked it up and treated and then later they got another one to give

company to the first one. I said, after recovery she could have released it

back to the wild, but she thought, that parrots always live in groups and

once humans had touched it, the group would not have accepted it back. Is

there any truth in that with regard to parrots.... and what about other

animals?

 

Thanks for clarification

 

Padma

-

" Weintraub " <weintraub

<aapn >

Sunday, March 25, 2007 9:10 AM

VSPCA/The Hindu/set caged birds free

 

 

 

Date:23/03/2007 URL:

http://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/yw/2007/03/23/stories/2007032302740600.htm

 

Out of bondage

SUMIT BHATTACHARJEE

 

It is time to set caged animals free.

 

SILENT CAPTIVES: Animals behind bars

 

Keeping pets has been a passion for ages. Roman empress Cleopatra

maintained a few African leopards in her private chamber. The erstwhile

zamindars and kings of India had the habit of keeping exotic birds and

animals in their farmhouses. It was said that the more exotic the animals,

the higher the status.

 

Though various national and international laws have curbed this hobby

or passion to a great extent, it still continues in some form or the other.

 

Of late, a noted three-star hotel and a hypermarket have introduced an

animal corner on their premises. While the hotel has kept them for

attraction (whom do they attract?), at the supermarket they are for sale.

 

The range of animals varies from exotic lovebirds to cockatiel and

from pigeons to puppies and rabbits. " Most of the species stocked are either

under the exotic category and hence they do not come under the Indian

Wildlife Act (IWA) or are under schedule III of the IWA that gives the

leverage of being `not so threatened species'. The question here is not

whether they are endangered or not but how they are kept, " points out

Pradeep Nath, founder of the Visakha Society for Prevention of Cruelty to

Animals (VSPCA).

 

Threat of fumes

 

The birds are kept in cages measuring 2 x 2 feet, leaving very little

space to expand their wings. Moreover, they are exposed to vehicle fumes and

other pollutants throughout the day. They look drowsy and sick. People who

had bought the birds complain that they died within a few days.

The founder of VSPCA opines that confinement of birds and rabbits to

small cages lead to a lot of problems. " Primarily they are sensitive to

fumes and pollutants and confinement to small cages develops problems like

heart disease, indigestion and arthritis. Displaying them may not come

directly under the Wildlife Act but the authorities can always prevail

basing on the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, " says he.

 

Conservator of Forests B. Trinadha Rao is also of the same opinion.

" A few companies have the licence to rear exotic birds that are

imported from other countries. In such cases they cannot be legally held for

sale or exhibition while rabbits and puppies are not listed under the

wildlife provisions. They can be held only if the animals fall under

threatened species. But the prevention of cruelty angle can always be

explored, " says he.

 

© Copyright 2000 - 2006 The Hindu

 

 

 

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