RE: (IN) Proposed Circus elephant ban in India

[Guest guest]

Dear ,

 

 

If any one person is to be congratulated, it is Padma Shri Norma Alvares.

Time and again, she was able to stop efforts to dilute what ever was in the

interests of animal welfare.

 

At one meeting at which only Norma and I were present to represent the

animal welfare angle, Norma filibustered for over 75 minutes (quoting points

discussed and agreed in our previous meetings) till the meeting was finally

called to an end.

 

Re. your questions, I can only say I do not know. I know that Mr. B. R.

Sharma,

Member-Secretary of the Central Zoo Authority was strongly arguing that

elephants and other animals in circuses be provided the same facilities

provided

to their counterparts in zoos, a suggestion that, naturally, found little

favour with

the Circus Federation.

 

Our proposal at the meetings was that the principle of " the user pays " be

applied

and the circuses fund the rehabilitation, just as the provisions for the

rehabilitation

of laboratory animals. We hope that this is applied here, too.

 

Chinny Krishna

 

aapn [aapn ]On Behalf Of

 

Tuesday, June 10, 2008 5:58 PM

Dr.Chinny Krishna

Cc: AZAM SIDDIQUI; aapn

(IN) Proposed Circus elephant ban in India

 

 

Dear Dr Krishna,

Congratulations for achieving this. I would be most

grateful if you could share some information in this forum on these

questions I raise:

1) What is the role of the Central Zoo Authority regarding the proposed

ban

of elephants in circuses? Will they provide housing for these animals in

Indian zoos? Among the 30 zoos I surveyed for the Indian Zoo Inquiry, only

three, Arignar Anna Zoo in Madras, Hyderabad Zoo and Vishakhapatnam Zoo

have

adequate facilities for these animals. It is to be noted in both US and

Europe, there is an ongoing effort to phase out elephants from zoos. If

Indian zoos are asked to house these rescued elephants, are they up to the

challenge?

2) How will the rescue centers for elephants be run? Will they be open to

the public? I mention this since the proposed elephant rescue center,

Hathi

Gaon in Jaipur is being touted as a tourist attraction, something that is

disturbing for animal rights activists.(Also considering that Rajasthan is

not an ideal place to house elephants in captivity at all). Please keep in

mind that the animal welfarists in Jaipur treating the elephants have

abused

them by forcing them to play elephant polo. One hopes that the rescued

circus elephants will not be introduced to play polo after performing

inane

tricks like playing cricket and football to please crowds.

3) What is the stake of the Circus Federation in relocation of these

animals?

4) Will the Ministry of Environment and Forests fund the rescue centers

for

the circus elephants?

Rescues of any animals need to be done with care for there have been

numerous instances when well intentioned rescues have placed animals from

the frying pan to the fire. All interested parties have to be cautious

regarding this.

Look forward to your response. Wishing you all the best in your efforts to

improve the lives of these pachyderms in captivity,

 

 

On 6/9/08, 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 <aapn%40> [

> aapn <aapn%40>] 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