Guest guest Posted June 9, 2008 Report Share Posted June 9, 2008 The Ministry of Environment and Forests had appointed a Committee to look into the issues concerning performing animals. The Committee met seven times over the course of 18 months and the last meeting was held in June 2007 . Mrs. Norma Alvares and myself were from the animal welfare organisations; the rest were senior officials of various ministries including Information & Broadcasting; and Environment & Forests and the Member Secretary of the Central Zoo Authority. The Circus Federation of India was also represented. The Chairman of the AWBI also attended most of the meetings. Ms. Bahar Dutt of CNN-IBN who has done a lot of work with snake charmers was also a member as were academicians and others. Many issues including violence to animals in cartoons and animated films were discussed and recommendations made. The repeated instances of elephants running amok due to man-made circumstances and because of using these animals when they were on masth was brought to the attention of the Committee. We are delighted that the Ministry has sent the recommendation to ban elephants in circuses to the Animal Welfare Division. It is essential that the use of elephants in temple processions and in temples also be stopped. Could all those who feel that these " Gods in Chains " be outlawed please write to the Prime Minister of India, who also holds the Environment portfolio. Thanks. S. Chinny Krishna aapn [aapn ] On Behalf Of AZAM SIDDIQUI 09 June 2008 13:05 aapn (IN): Jumbo exit from circus likely soon Link: http://www.dnaindia <http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?newsid=1169821> ..com/report.asp?newsid=1169821 *Jumbo exit from circus likely soon* PTI Sunday, June 08, 2008 23:24 IST NEW DELHI: Tricks by jumbos in circuses would soon be a thing of the past if the environment ministry has its way. The ministry plans to ban elephants from circuses, sources said. It is mulling the move in view of several instances and studies that circus owners were not complying with the provisions of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act. India has already prohibited the use of bears, monkeys, tigers, panthers, and lions as entertainment under the Act. The move, which will obviously bring cheer to animal lovers, has already been implemented by Sweden, Austria, Costa Rica, Finland, and Singapore. Sources said that the ministry has sent a proposal in this regard to its Animal Welfare division to consider the move and scan legal provisions. There are 21 recognised circuses in the country with 85 jumbos. If the proposal to ban the jumbos is approved, a notification will be issued soon by the environment ministry in this regard. The ministry is seeing if the elephants rented out for joy rides, weddings, functions and political rallies can also be included in the proposed amended Act. The Central Zoo Authority (CZA) has already expressed its inability to look after elephants in circuses, saying they should be monitored under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act and any violation should be taken seriously. In a recent letter to the ministry, CZA said monitoring a circus is too heavy a responsibility considering frequent instances of violation. -- United against elephant polo http://www.stopelep <http://www.stopelephantpolo.com> hantpolo.com http://www.freewebs <http://www.freewebs.com/azamsiddiqui> ..com/azamsiddiqui Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 9, 2008 Report Share Posted June 9, 2008 Dear Dr. Chinny, Indeed this is going to be a very important milestone achieved. I can only hope something good is planned for the rehab of the jumbos that would be surrendered/ seized from the owners of these circuses. In the past after the Hon`ble Sureme Court of India banned some animals from entertainment, specially circus in India, and later the Government of India made arrangements for the housing and rehab of the rescued animals. We have seen that most of the animals have died due to horrible neglect and attention. Some of the examples are the death of tigers rescued from many circuses at Jaldapara rehab centre in North Bengal and the state of Lions at Hyderabad. I would not be surprised if that is the same in all the rehab centres where the circus animals are housed. Some years back I had rescued Tigers, lions from the Kohinoor circus in Guwahati and the animals were sent to the State Zoo for temporary housing. Later the Hon`ble Gauhati High Court handed over the custody of the seized animals to the owners after they argued that the animals would suffer due to starvation and more neglect at the Government centres. At that time I was sad that the offenders got back the custody of the animals. But now after hearing reports of death, torture, starvation and neglect of the hybrid and circus animals which are being housed in the many zoos and rehab centres, I feel that those animals which were handed to the circus people might have been rather fortunate. I fear that the elephants in this case are not sold to a Mark Shand to be used in some nasty fund raising project like the 'Elephant Polo'. Regards, Azam On Mon, Jun 9, 2008 at 2:51 PM, Dr.Chinny Krishna <drkrishna wrote: > The Ministry of Environment and Forests had appointed a > > Committee to look into the issues concerning performing animals. > > The Committee met seven times over the course of 18 months and > > the last meeting was held in June 2007 . Mrs. Norma Alvares and > > myself were from the animal welfare organisations; the rest were > > senior officials of various ministries including Information & > Broadcasting; > > and Environment & Forests and the Member Secretary of the > > Central Zoo Authority. The Circus Federation of India was also represented. > > > > > The Chairman of the AWBI also attended most of the meetings. > > Ms. Bahar Dutt of CNN-IBN who has done a lot of work with snake charmers > > was also a member as were academicians and others. > > > > Many issues including violence to animals in cartoons and animated > > films were discussed and recommendations made. The repeated instances > > of elephants running amok due to man-made circumstances and because of > > using these animals when they were on *masth** *was brought to the > attention > > of the Committee. > > > > We are delighted that the Ministry has sent the recommendation to ban > > elephants in circuses to the Animal Welfare Division. It is essential that > the use > > of elephants in temple processions and in temples also be stopped. > > > > Could all those who feel that these " Gods in Chains " be outlawed please > write > > to the Prime Minister of India, who also holds the Environment portfolio. > > > > Thanks. > > > > S. Chinny Krishna > > > > > > > ** aapn > ... > > [Message clipped] -- United against elephant polo http://www.stopelephantpolo.com http://www.freewebs.com/azamsiddiqui Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 9, 2008 Report Share Posted June 9, 2008 Not only PCA Act, Circus owners do not follow the guidelines of CZA as these are coming under the purview of CZA under sec 38H of Wildlife Protection Act. Major Points of the guidelines issued by CZA are: They will procure Tranquillising Gun and the medicines required for the dart. The elephants will be Microchipped. They will provide elephants branches of peepal(ficus), Banyan, Neem(Azardicta) etc apart from sugarcanes and other fodder. They will maintain a medical record of each animal. They will chain only one leg and the chain should be covered with rubber/leather sheath.Only elephants should be tied in case of Musth. My friends will agree that the wildlife Deptt. of states and the owners do not bother about these. If the CZA is helpless the recognition as captive Animal facility should be transferred to Project elephant as this is under Wildlife ACT. Dr.Sandeep K Jain Hon.Wildlife warden Govt. of Punjab On Mon, 09 Jun 2008 AZAM SIDDIQUI wrote : > Link: http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?newsid=1169821 > >*Jumbo exit from circus likely soon* >PTI >Sunday, June 08, 2008 23:24 IST > >NEW DELHI: Tricks by jumbos in circuses would soon be a thing of the past if >the environment ministry has its way. > >The ministry plans to ban elephants from circuses, sources said. It is >mulling the move in view of several instances and studies that circus owners >were not complying with the provisions of the Prevention of Cruelty to >Animals Act. > >India has already prohibited the use of bears, monkeys, tigers, panthers, >and lions as entertainment under the Act. > >The move, which will obviously bring cheer to animal lovers, has already >been implemented by Sweden, Austria, Costa Rica, Finland, and Singapore. > >Sources said that the ministry has sent a proposal in this regard to its >Animal Welfare division to consider the move and scan legal provisions. >There are 21 recognised circuses in the country with 85 jumbos. If the >proposal to ban the jumbos is approved, a notification will be issued soon >by the environment ministry in this regard. > >The ministry is seeing if the elephants rented out for joy rides, weddings, >functions and political rallies can also be included in the proposed amended >Act. The Central Zoo Authority (CZA) has already expressed its inability to >look after elephants in circuses, saying they should be monitored under the >Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act and any violation should be taken >seriously. In a recent letter to the ministry, CZA said monitoring a circus >is too heavy a responsibility considering frequent instances of violation. > > >-- >United against elephant polo >http://www.stopelephantpolo.com >http://www.freewebs.com/azamsiddiqui > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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