(IN): Anuradha Sawhney on the CZA Zoo elephant ban

[Guest guest]

http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=VE9JTS8yMDA5LzExLzE1I0FyMDA\

1MDI=

 

Times of India Mumbai;

Nov 15, 2009;Section: Times Features;Page: 5

 

ANIMAL INSTINCT

 

The jumbo brigade packs its trunk

 

Behind the Central Zoo Authority’s recent decision to ban elephants in zoos and

circuses was a mammoth struggle

 

*Anuradha Sawhney *

 

It happened almost as soon as People for the Ethical Treatment of

Animals (PETA) first launched in India in 2000. We turned our attention to

the four elephants in the Mumbai zoo and then to those in other zoos and

circuses. Everywhere we went, we found that these gentle giants—who in the

wild live in herds, who care for their babies till they are almost nine

years old and who mourn for their lost babies for almost 19 years—were in

horrifying condition. They were in captivity, kept constantly chained, never

exercised, made to stand in their own excreta, fed substandard food, beaten

regularly and not given adequate food or water. The Ahmedabad zoo elephants

were shackled with chains which had spikes on the inside, so that even the

slightest movement resulted in their skin being pierced.

 

The circuses were as bad, if not worse. Elephants, who for years have

been revered, had been turned into a parody of their magnificent cousins in

the wild by insensitive circus owners who made them play cricket, stand on

one leg whilst balancing on a stool, balance humans on their trunk and other

asinine tricks. Their handlers thought nothing of poking them with an ankus

to force them to obey. And when they were not entertaining circus goers,

these poor animals were kept fettered by chains on three legs (on occasion

even four) outside the circus tents, with inadequate food, no constant

source of water, no mud to have mud baths, and being gawked at by all and

sundry.

 

Saddened and angered at the cruelty inflicted on them, my staffers and I

prepared report after report on how these creatures suffered in different

zoos and circuses and sent them over eight years to the government, which

remained totally indifferent. We used film stars—Rahul Khanna and Celina

Jaitley—to create awareness about the torture inflicted upon elephants in

captivity, but to no avail.

 

Then in 2008, I read a news report which gave me a shock. It said the

Central Zoo Authority (CZA), the only authority who could do something for

elephants in captivity, had decided to turn the responsibility over to the

Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI), which has no authority under the

Wildlife Protection Act, under which Elephants are supposedly protected. CZA

undoubtedly saw this as the easiest way out. Alarmed, I immediately wrote an

impassioned letter not just to CZA but to the Chairman of AWBI as well as to

the Ministry of Environments and Forests, telling them how the provisions of

the Wild Protection Act were being violated by the zoos and circuses and how

it was imperative that the ministry immediately ban the keeping of elephants

by zoos and circuses. I even got an opinion from an advocate, Raj Panjwani,

as to how CZA, which has

 

been formulated under the Wildlife Protection Act, could not wash its hands

of the issue. PETA got ready to go to court if the need arose.

 

Late last year, after our letter, a news report appeared which said that

MOEF could be considering a ban on elephants working in circuses and zoos.

Despite much effort, we were unable to get more information, and so decided

to send more reports on the suffering of elephants to MOEF and CZA,

stressing why a ban was imperative. And then we prayed.

 

Well, God evidently heard us. After eight long years, CZA confirmed vide

its circular of November 7, 2009, that all captive elephants in zoos and

circuses needed to be rehabilitated in elephant camps/rehabilitation

camps/facilities available with the forest department under the supervision

of the chief wildlife wardens of the state. Our long struggle has ended—and

with it the misery of hundreds of captive elephants.

 

(The writer is ex-head of PETA and co-opted member of AWBI)

 

--

http://www.stopelephantpolo.com

http://www.freewebs.com/azamsiddiqui

[Guest guest]

Indeed PeTA's role has been laudable and thanks to the efforts of many

people and organisations, known and unknown, we have been able to achieve

this. But not everyone has welcomed the ban. Ahmedabad Zoo is already

moaning and wailing. And the most robust defence of elephant captivity in

zoos has come from Mr Peter Dickinson of UK who runs Zoo News Digest. He has

been a zoo keeper for over 40 years and he has termed the move " a daft

idea. " He stated that he did not mince words in publicly denouncing the move

on his website. A friend of mine forwarded his note and I responded. Mr

Dickinson acknowledges that I did not mince words either. Read the exchange

here : http://zoonewsdigest.blogspot.com/

The debate has been appreciated by many notable international elephant

experts, including Gay Bradshaw of the Kerulos Center in USA, David

Hancocks, former director of Woodland Park Zoo, Seattle, Joyce Poole and

Petter Granli of ElephantVoices and several others who have sent me personal

messages of support and have welcomed the ban. Mr Dickinson says my response

makes him feel " Zoo Check has wormed its way into the Indian zoo community. "

I take this as a compliment since Zoo Check is a name that strikes fear into

the hearts of zoo directors in UK, being a constant thorn on their side,

demanding changes and a radical reappraisal of the concept. And although

after the initial exchange, Mr Dickinson and I have exchanged personal notes

and observations, our views on elephants in captivity remain divergent and

irreconcilable. I am quite sure this Indian ban has struck fear in the zoo

industry in USA and UK. The temple elephant lobby will not be very glad too.

But this does show the campaigners have achieved something substantial.

 

 

On 11/16/09, azam24x7 <azam24x7 wrote:

>

>

>

http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=VE9JTS8yMDA5LzExLzE1I0FyMDA\

1MDI=

>

> Times of India Mumbai;

> Nov 15, 2009;Section: Times Features;Page: 5

>

> ANIMAL INSTINCT

>

> The jumbo brigade packs its trunk

>

> Behind the Central Zoo Authority’s recent decision to ban elephants in zoos

> and circuses was a mammoth struggle

>

> *Anuradha Sawhney *

>

> It happened almost as soon as People for the Ethical Treatment of

> Animals (PETA) first launched in India in 2000. We turned our attention to

> the four elephants in the Mumbai zoo and then to those in other zoos and

> circuses. Everywhere we went, we found that these gentle giants—who in the

> wild live in herds, who care for their babies till they are almost nine

> years old and who mourn for their lost babies for almost 19 years—were in

> horrifying condition. They were in captivity, kept constantly chained,

> never

> exercised, made to stand in their own excreta, fed substandard food, beaten

> regularly and not given adequate food or water. The Ahmedabad zoo elephants

> were shackled with chains which had spikes on the inside, so that even the

> slightest movement resulted in their skin being pierced.

>

> The circuses were as bad, if not worse. Elephants, who for years have

> been revered, had been turned into a parody of their magnificent cousins in

> the wild by insensitive circus owners who made them play cricket, stand on

> one leg whilst balancing on a stool, balance humans on their trunk and

> other

> asinine tricks. Their handlers thought nothing of poking them with an ankus

> to force them to obey. And when they were not entertaining circus goers,

> these poor animals were kept fettered by chains on three legs (on occasion

> even four) outside the circus tents, with inadequate food, no constant

> source of water, no mud to have mud baths, and being gawked at by all and

> sundry.

>

> Saddened and angered at the cruelty inflicted on them, my staffers and I

> prepared report after report on how these creatures suffered in different

> zoos and circuses and sent them over eight years to the government, which

> remained totally indifferent. We used film stars—Rahul Khanna and Celina

> Jaitley—to create awareness about the torture inflicted upon elephants in

> captivity, but to no avail.

>

> Then in 2008, I read a news report which gave me a shock. It said the

> Central Zoo Authority (CZA), the only authority who could do something for

> elephants in captivity, had decided to turn the responsibility over to the

> Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI), which has no authority under the

> Wildlife Protection Act, under which Elephants are supposedly protected.

> CZA

> undoubtedly saw this as the easiest way out. Alarmed, I immediately wrote

> an

> impassioned letter not just to CZA but to the Chairman of AWBI as well as

> to

> the Ministry of Environments and Forests, telling them how the provisions

> of

> the Wild Protection Act were being violated by the zoos and circuses and

> how

> it was imperative that the ministry immediately ban the keeping of

> elephants

> by zoos and circuses. I even got an opinion from an advocate, Raj Panjwani,

> as to how CZA, which has

>

> been formulated under the Wildlife Protection Act, could not wash its hands

> of the issue. PETA got ready to go to court if the need arose.

>

> Late last year, after our letter, a news report appeared which said that

> MOEF could be considering a ban on elephants working in circuses and zoos.

> Despite much effort, we were unable to get more information, and so decided

> to send more reports on the suffering of elephants to MOEF and CZA,

> stressing why a ban was imperative. And then we prayed.

>

> Well, God evidently heard us. After eight long years, CZA confirmed vide

> its circular of November 7, 2009, that all captive elephants in zoos and

> circuses needed to be rehabilitated in elephant camps/rehabilitation

> camps/facilities available with the forest department under the supervision

> of the chief wildlife wardens of the state. Our long struggle has ended—and

> with it the misery of hundreds of captive elephants.

>

> (The writer is ex-head of PETA and co-opted member of AWBI)

>

> --

> http://www.stopelephantpolo.com

> http://www.freewebs.com/azamsiddiqui

>

>

>

> ---

>

> For more information on Asian animal issues, please use the search feature

> on the AAPN website: http://www.aapn.org/ or search the list archives at:

> aapn

> Please feel free to send any relevant news or comments to the list at

> aapn

> AAPN is not responsible for and does not necessarily endorse the

> opinions/inputs of the contributors.

[Guest guest]

Can anyone get the link or document paper on actual ban from CZA to us?

 

Regards,

Nilesh

PAWS

 

 

azam24x7 [azam24x7]

Monday, November 16, 2009 11:06 AM

AAPN List

(IN): Anuradha Sawhney on the CZA Zoo elephant ban

 

http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=VE9JTS8yMDA5LzExLzE

1I0FyMDA1MDI=

 

Times of India Mumbai;

Nov 15, 2009;Section: Times Features;Page: 5

 

ANIMAL INSTINCT

 

The jumbo brigade packs its trunk

 

Behind the Central Zoo Authority's recent decision to ban elephants in

zoos and circuses was a mammoth struggle

 

*Anuradha Sawhney *

 

It happened almost as soon as People for the Ethical Treatment of

Animals (PETA) first launched in India in 2000. We turned our attention

to

the four elephants in the Mumbai zoo and then to those in other zoos and

circuses. Everywhere we went, we found that these gentle giants-who in

the

wild live in herds, who care for their babies till they are almost nine

years old and who mourn for their lost babies for almost 19 years-were

in

horrifying condition. They were in captivity, kept constantly chained,

never

exercised, made to stand in their own excreta, fed substandard food,

beaten

regularly and not given adequate food or water. The Ahmedabad zoo

elephants

were shackled with chains which had spikes on the inside, so that even

the

slightest movement resulted in their skin being pierced.

 

The circuses were as bad, if not worse. Elephants, who for years

have

been revered, had been turned into a parody of their magnificent cousins

in

the wild by insensitive circus owners who made them play cricket, stand

on

one leg whilst balancing on a stool, balance humans on their trunk and

other

asinine tricks. Their handlers thought nothing of poking them with an

ankus

to force them to obey. And when they were not entertaining circus goers,

these poor animals were kept fettered by chains on three legs (on

occasion

even four) outside the circus tents, with inadequate food, no constant

source of water, no mud to have mud baths, and being gawked at by all

and

sundry.

 

Saddened and angered at the cruelty inflicted on them, my staffers

and I

prepared report after report on how these creatures suffered in

different

zoos and circuses and sent them over eight years to the government,

which

remained totally indifferent. We used film stars-Rahul Khanna and Celina

Jaitley-to create awareness about the torture inflicted upon elephants

in

captivity, but to no avail.

 

Then in 2008, I read a news report which gave me a shock. It said

the

Central Zoo Authority (CZA), the only authority who could do something

for

elephants in captivity, had decided to turn the responsibility over to

the

Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI), which has no authority under the

Wildlife Protection Act, under which Elephants are supposedly protected.

CZA

undoubtedly saw this as the easiest way out. Alarmed, I immediately

wrote an

impassioned letter not just to CZA but to the Chairman of AWBI as well

as to

the Ministry of Environments and Forests, telling them how the

provisions of

the Wild Protection Act were being violated by the zoos and circuses and

how

it was imperative that the ministry immediately ban the keeping of

elephants

by zoos and circuses. I even got an opinion from an advocate, Raj

Panjwani,

as to how CZA, which has

 

been formulated under the Wildlife Protection Act, could not wash its

hands

of the issue. PETA got ready to go to court if the need arose.

 

Late last year, after our letter, a news report appeared which said

that

MOEF could be considering a ban on elephants working in circuses and

zoos.

Despite much effort, we were unable to get more information, and so

decided

to send more reports on the suffering of elephants to MOEF and CZA,

stressing why a ban was imperative. And then we prayed.

 

Well, God evidently heard us. After eight long years, CZA confirmed

vide

its circular of November 7, 2009, that all captive elephants in zoos and

circuses needed to be rehabilitated in elephant camps/rehabilitation

camps/facilities available with the forest department under the

supervision

of the chief wildlife wardens of the state. Our long struggle has

ended-and

with it the misery of hundreds of captive elephants.

 

(The writer is ex-head of PETA and co-opted member of AWBI)

 

-

[Guest guest]

Congratulations to all those people, Indian,Foreigners, Ngo's,Lawyers,

Government Departments who have fought for this decision. But I disagree

with PETA and Anuradha, The fight is not over yet -

For all those elephants in 'private' hands whether as beggars, Temple or

Palace commodities, your/our fight just has to continue.

Besides sanctuaries being developed, and therapy being started there must

also be First Aid Camps set up - For example as elephants have been banned

in Mumbai, beggars are making them walk to Thane and outskirts - when these

animals are confiscated there MUST be a relatively nearby Shelter for them

to receive First Aid, Food and Rest if not therapy till moved onto a

permanent home. Selected Truckers must be trained in elephant loading and

transport.

Any ideas and above all any takers??

rgds Roxanne Davur

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Please contact Peta India Mentor, Ms. Anuradha Sawhney or their Lawyer Mr.

Jayasimha N.G

Their emails: " Anuradha Sawhney " <anuradhas, " Jayasimha N.G. "

<jayasimhang.

 

You can also try them on their phone numbers as they are pretty close to you

in Pune.

 

Thanks

 

On Tue, Nov 17, 2009 at 9:27 AM, NileshBhanage <NileshBhanagewrote:

 

> Can anyone get the link or document paper on actual ban from CZA to us?

>

> Regards,

> Nilesh

> PAWS

>

>

> azam24x7 [azam24x7]

> Monday, November 16, 2009 11:06 AM

> AAPN List

> (IN): Anuradha Sawhney on the CZA Zoo elephant ban

>

> http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=VE9JTS8yMDA5LzExLzE

> 1I0FyMDA1MDI=

>

> Times of India Mumbai;

> Nov 15, 2009;Section: Times Features;Page: 5

>

> ANIMAL INSTINCT

>

> The jumbo brigade packs its trunk

>

> Behind the Central Zoo Authority's recent decision to ban elephants in

> zoos and circuses was a mammoth struggle

>

> *Anuradha Sawhney *

>

> It happened almost as soon as People for the Ethical Treatment of

> Animals (PETA) first launched in India in 2000. We turned our attention

> to

> the four elephants in the Mumbai zoo and then to those in other zoos and

> circuses. Everywhere we went, we found that these gentle giants-who in

> the

> wild live in herds, who care for their babies till they are almost nine

> years old and who mourn for their lost babies for almost 19 years-were

> in

> horrifying condition. They were in captivity, kept constantly chained,

> never

> exercised, made to stand in their own excreta, fed substandard food,

> beaten

> regularly and not given adequate food or water. The Ahmedabad zoo

> elephants

> were shackled with chains which had spikes on the inside, so that even

> the

> slightest movement resulted in their skin being pierced.

>

> The circuses were as bad, if not worse. Elephants, who for years

> have

> been revered, had been turned into a parody of their magnificent cousins

> in

> the wild by insensitive circus owners who made them play cricket, stand

> on

> one leg whilst balancing on a stool, balance humans on their trunk and

> other

> asinine tricks. Their handlers thought nothing of poking them with an

> ankus

> to force them to obey. And when they were not entertaining circus goers,

> these poor animals were kept fettered by chains on three legs (on

> occasion

> even four) outside the circus tents, with inadequate food, no constant

> source of water, no mud to have mud baths, and being gawked at by all

> and

> sundry.

>

> Saddened and angered at the cruelty inflicted on them, my staffers

> and I

> prepared report after report on how these creatures suffered in

> different

> zoos and circuses and sent them over eight years to the government,

> which

> remained totally indifferent. We used film stars-Rahul Khanna and Celina

> Jaitley-to create awareness about the torture inflicted upon elephants

> in

> captivity, but to no avail.

>

> Then in 2008, I read a news report which gave me a shock. It said

> the

> Central Zoo Authority (CZA), the only authority who could do something

> for

> elephants in captivity, had decided to turn the responsibility over to

> the

> Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI), which has no authority under the

> Wildlife Protection Act, under which Elephants are supposedly protected.

> CZA

> undoubtedly saw this as the easiest way out. Alarmed, I immediately

> wrote an

> impassioned letter not just to CZA but to the Chairman of AWBI as well

> as to

> the Ministry of Environments and Forests, telling them how the

> provisions of

> the Wild Protection Act were being violated by the zoos and circuses and

> how

> it was imperative that the ministry immediately ban the keeping of

> elephants

> by zoos and circuses. I even got an opinion from an advocate, Raj

> Panjwani,

> as to how CZA, which has

>

> been formulated under the Wildlife Protection Act, could not wash its

> hands

> of the issue. PETA got ready to go to court if the need arose.

>

> Late last year, after our letter, a news report appeared which said

> that

> MOEF could be considering a ban on elephants working in circuses and

> zoos.

> Despite much effort, we were unable to get more information, and so

> decided

> to send more reports on the suffering of elephants to MOEF and CZA,

> stressing why a ban was imperative. And then we prayed.

>

> Well, God evidently heard us. After eight long years, CZA confirmed

> vide

> its circular of November 7, 2009, that all captive elephants in zoos and

> circuses needed to be rehabilitated in elephant camps/rehabilitation

> camps/facilities available with the forest department under the

> supervision

> of the chief wildlife wardens of the state. Our long struggle has

> ended-and

> with it the misery of hundreds of captive elephants.

>

> (The writer is ex-head of PETA and co-opted member of AWBI)

>

> --

> http://www.stopelephantpolo.com

> http://www.freewebs.com/azamsiddiqui

>

>

>

> ---

>

> For more information on Asian animal issues, please use the search

> feature on the AAPN website: http://www.aapn.org/ or search the list

> archives at: aapn

> Please feel free to send any relevant news or comments to the list at

> aapn

> AAPN is not responsible for and does not necessarily endorse the

> opinions/inputs of the contributors.

[Guest guest]

I have already contacted they said contact CZA which is not possible for

us can animal rights people like Azam , can get the scanned

copy for us?

 

Regards,

Nilesh

www.pawsasia.org <http://www.pawsasia.org/> /

www.bancityelephants.webs.com <http://www.bancityelephants.webs.com/>

 

 

azam24x7 [azam24x7]

Tuesday, November 17, 2009 1:02 PM

NileshBhanage

Cc: AAPN List

Re: (IN): Anuradha Sawhney on the CZA Zoo elephant ban

 

Please contact Peta India Mentor, Ms. Anuradha Sawhney or their Lawyer

Mr. Jayasimha N.G

Their emails: " Anuradha Sawhney " <anuradhas, " Jayasimha

N.G. " <jayasimhang.

 

 

 

You can also try them on their phone numbers as they are pretty close to

you in Pune.

 

 

 

Thanks

 

On Tue, Nov 17, 2009 at 9:27 AM, NileshBhanage

<NileshBhanage wrote:

Can anyone get the link or document paper on actual ban from CZA to us?

 

Regards,

Nilesh

PAWS

 

 

azam24x7 [azam24x7]

Monday, November 16, 2009 11:06 AM

AAPN List

(IN): Anuradha Sawhney on the CZA Zoo elephant ban

 

http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=VE9JTS8yMDA5LzExLzE

1I0FyMDA1MDI=

 

Times of India Mumbai;

Nov 15, 2009;Section: Times Features;Page: 5

 

ANIMAL INSTINCT

 

The jumbo brigade packs its trunk

 

Behind the Central Zoo Authority's recent decision to ban elephants in

zoos and circuses was a mammoth struggle

 

*Anuradha Sawhney *

 

It happened almost as soon as People for the Ethical Treatment of

Animals (PETA) first launched in India in 2000. We turned our attention

to

the four elephants in the Mumbai zoo and then to those in other zoos and

circuses. Everywhere we went, we found that these gentle giants-who in

the

wild live in herds, who care for their babies till they are almost nine

years old and who mourn for their lost babies for almost 19 years-were

in

horrifying condition. They were in captivity, kept constantly chained,

never

exercised, made to stand in their own excreta, fed substandard food,

beaten

regularly and not given adequate food or water. The Ahmedabad zoo

elephants

were shackled with chains which had spikes on the inside, so that even

the

slightest movement resulted in their skin being pierced.

 

The circuses were as bad, if not worse. Elephants, who for years

have

been revered, had been turned into a parody of their magnificent cousins

in

the wild by insensitive circus owners who made them play cricket, stand

on

one leg whilst balancing on a stool, balance humans on their trunk and

other

asinine tricks. Their handlers thought nothing of poking them with an

ankus

to force them to obey. And when they were not entertaining circus goers,

these poor animals were kept fettered by chains on three legs (on

occasion

even four) outside the circus tents, with inadequate food, no constant

source of water, no mud to have mud baths, and being gawked at by all

and

sundry.

 

Saddened and angered at the cruelty inflicted on them, my staffers

and I

prepared report after report on how these creatures suffered in

different

zoos and circuses and sent them over eight years to the government,

which

remained totally indifferent. We used film stars-Rahul Khanna and Celina

Jaitley-to create awareness about the torture inflicted upon elephants

in

captivity, but to no avail.

 

Then in 2008, I read a news report which gave me a shock. It said

the

Central Zoo Authority (CZA), the only authority who could do something

for

elephants in captivity, had decided to turn the responsibility over to

the

Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI), which has no authority under the

Wildlife Protection Act, under which Elephants are supposedly protected.

CZA

undoubtedly saw this as the easiest way out. Alarmed, I immediately

wrote an

impassioned letter not just to CZA but to the Chairman of AWBI as well

as to

the Ministry of Environments and Forests, telling them how the

provisions of

the Wild Protection Act were being violated by the zoos and circuses and

how

it was imperative that the ministry immediately ban the keeping of

elephants

by zoos and circuses. I even got an opinion from an advocate, Raj

Panjwani,

as to how CZA, which has

 

been formulated under the Wildlife Protection Act, could not wash its

hands

of the issue. PETA got ready to go to court if the need arose.

 

Late last year, after our letter, a news report appeared which said

that

MOEF could be considering a ban on elephants working in circuses and

zoos.

Despite much effort, we were unable to get more information, and so

decided

to send more reports on the suffering of elephants to MOEF and CZA,

stressing why a ban was imperative. And then we prayed.

 

Well, God evidently heard us. After eight long years, CZA confirmed

vide

its circular of November 7, 2009, that all captive elephants in zoos and

circuses needed to be rehabilitated in elephant camps/rehabilitation

camps/facilities available with the forest department under the

supervision

of the chief wildlife wardens of the state. Our long struggle has

ended-and

with it the misery of hundreds of captive elephants.

 

(The writer is ex-head of PETA and co-opted member of AWBI)

 

--

http://www.stopelephantpolo.com

http://www.freewebs.com/azamsiddiqui

 

 

 

---

 

For more information on Asian animal issues, please use the search

feature on the AAPN website: http://www.aapn.org/ or search the list

archives at: aapn

Please feel free to send any relevant news or comments to the list at

aapn

AAPN is not responsible for and does not necessarily endorse the

opinions/inputs of the contributors.

[Guest guest]

Azam and Shubho would be perhaps the TOP Two most hated animal people on the

books of CZA.

I do not think they will hold any respect for the two of us after the series

of expose we have initiated to dig out the filth and irregularities of the

CZA recognized and the non recognized zoos in India.

 

Similarly just because CZA has come out with this announcement of keeping

elephants out of zoos, does not mean that I change my attitude towards the

Zoos of India or CZA. They were 'Prisons' and they are still 'Prisons' for

the hundreds and thousands of other species which are left to rot.

 

Sorry dude, but I think you should try someone 'Diplomatic' to get this

document out from the authoritities.

 

Would have loved be of help though :-(

 

On Tue, Nov 17, 2009 at 1:12 PM, NileshBhanage <NileshBhanagewrote:

 

> I have already contacted they said contact CZA which is not possible for

> us can animal rights people like Azam , can get the scanned

> copy for us?

>

>

>

> Regards,

>

> Nilesh

>

> www.pawsasia.org / www.bancityelephants.webs.com

>

>

>

>

> ** azam24x7 [azam24x7]

> *Sent:* Tuesday, November 17, 2009 1:02 PM

> *To:* NileshBhanage

> *Cc:* AAPN List

> *Subject:* Re: (IN): Anuradha Sawhney on the CZA Zoo elephant ban

>

>

>

> Please contact Peta India Mentor, Ms. Anuradha Sawhney or their Lawyer Mr.

> Jayasimha N.G

>

> Their emails: " Anuradha Sawhney " <anuradhas, " Jayasimha

> N.G. " <jayasimhang.

>

>

>

> You can also try them on their phone numbers as they are pretty close to

> you in Pune.

>

>

>

> Thanks

>

>

>

> On Tue, Nov 17, 2009 at 9:27 AM, NileshBhanage <NileshBhanage

> wrote:

>

> Can anyone get the link or document paper on actual ban from CZA to us?

>

> Regards,

> Nilesh

> PAWS

>

>

>

> azam24x7 [azam24x7]

> Monday, November 16, 2009 11:06 AM

> AAPN List

> (IN): Anuradha Sawhney on the CZA Zoo elephant ban

>

> http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=VE9JTS8yMDA5LzExLzE

> 1I0FyMDA1MDI=

>

> Times of India Mumbai;

> Nov 15, 2009;Section: Times Features;Page: 5

>

> ANIMAL INSTINCT

>

> The jumbo brigade packs its trunk

>

> Behind the Central Zoo Authority's recent decision to ban elephants in

> zoos and circuses was a mammoth struggle

>

> *Anuradha Sawhney *

>

> It happened almost as soon as People for the Ethical Treatment of

> Animals (PETA) first launched in India in 2000. We turned our attention

> to

> the four elephants in the Mumbai zoo and then to those in other zoos and

> circuses. Everywhere we went, we found that these gentle giants-who in

> the

> wild live in herds, who care for their babies till they are almost nine

> years old and who mourn for their lost babies for almost 19 years-were

> in

> horrifying condition. They were in captivity, kept constantly chained,

> never

> exercised, made to stand in their own excreta, fed substandard food,

> beaten

> regularly and not given adequate food or water. The Ahmedabad zoo

> elephants

> were shackled with chains which had spikes on the inside, so that even

> the

> slightest movement resulted in their skin being pierced.

>

> The circuses were as bad, if not worse. Elephants, who for years

> have

> been revered, had been turned into a parody of their magnificent cousins

> in

> the wild by insensitive circus owners who made them play cricket, stand

> on

> one leg whilst balancing on a stool, balance humans on their trunk and

> other

> asinine tricks. Their handlers thought nothing of poking them with an

> ankus

> to force them to obey. And when they were not entertaining circus goers,

> these poor animals were kept fettered by chains on three legs (on

> occasion

> even four) outside the circus tents, with inadequate food, no constant

> source of water, no mud to have mud baths, and being gawked at by all

> and

> sundry.

>

> Saddened and angered at the cruelty inflicted on them, my staffers

> and I

> prepared report after report on how these creatures suffered in

> different

> zoos and circuses and sent them over eight years to the government,

> which

> remained totally indifferent. We used film stars-Rahul Khanna and Celina

> Jaitley-to create awareness about the torture inflicted upon elephants

> in

> captivity, but to no avail.

>

> Then in 2008, I read a news report which gave me a shock. It said

> the

> Central Zoo Authority (CZA), the only authority who could do something

> for

> elephants in captivity, had decided to turn the responsibility over to

> the

> Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI), which has no authority under the

> Wildlife Protection Act, under which Elephants are supposedly protected.

> CZA

> undoubtedly saw this as the easiest way out. Alarmed, I immediately

> wrote an

> impassioned letter not just to CZA but to the Chairman of AWBI as well

> as to

> the Ministry of Environments and Forests, telling them how the

> provisions of

> the Wild Protection Act were being violated by the zoos and circuses and

> how

> it was imperative that the ministry immediately ban the keeping of

> elephants

> by zoos and circuses. I even got an opinion from an advocate, Raj

> Panjwani,

> as to how CZA, which has

>

> been formulated under the Wildlife Protection Act, could not wash its

> hands

> of the issue. PETA got ready to go to court if the need arose.

>

> Late last year, after our letter, a news report appeared which said

> that

> MOEF could be considering a ban on elephants working in circuses and

> zoos.

> Despite much effort, we were unable to get more information, and so

> decided

> to send more reports on the suffering of elephants to MOEF and CZA,

> stressing why a ban was imperative. And then we prayed.

>

> Well, God evidently heard us. After eight long years, CZA confirmed

> vide

> its circular of November 7, 2009, that all captive elephants in zoos and

> circuses needed to be rehabilitated in elephant camps/rehabilitation

> camps/facilities available with the forest department under the

> supervision

> of the chief wildlife wardens of the state. Our long struggle has

> ended-and

> with it the misery of hundreds of captive elephants.

>

> (The writer is ex-head of PETA and co-opted member of AWBI)

>

> --

> http://www.stopelephantpolo.com

> http://www.freewebs.com/azamsiddiqui

>

>

>

> ---

>

> For more information on Asian animal issues, please use the search

> feature on the AAPN website: http://www.aapn.org/ or search the list

> archives at: aapn

> Please feel free to send any relevant news or comments to the list at

> aapn

> AAPN is not responsible for and does not necessarily endorse the

> opinions/inputs of the contributors.

[Guest guest]

Dear Nilesh,

Please try sending a request directly to Mr Brij Kishore

Gupta of CZA : " Brijkishor Gupta " <brijkishor68,

If the document is in the public domain, I see no reason why they should not

share it with you but I am not sure if it has been released as such because

Delhi Zoo apparently refused to divulge details of the circular according to

the first media report in Times of India. It does appear Mr Gupta is

sympathetic to animal welfare/animal rights people. If I am not mistaken he

has even won an award from PeTA for facilitating the rescue of circus

animals in different situations. If he says " Get lost " all you have

sacrificed is five minutes of your writing time. Please see if this works

out.

Good luck,

 

 

On Tue, Nov 17, 2009 at 1:12 PM, NileshBhanage <NileshBhanagewrote:

 

>

>

> I have already contacted they said contact CZA which is not possible for

> us can animal rights people like Azam , can get the scanned

> copy for us?

>

> Regards,

> Nilesh

> www.pawsasia.org <http://www.pawsasia.org/> /

> www.bancityelephants.webs.com <http://www.bancityelephants.webs.com/>

>

>

> azam24x7 [azam24x7 <azam24x7%40gmail.com>]

> Tuesday, November 17, 2009 1:02 PM

> NileshBhanage

> Cc: AAPN List

> Re: (IN): Anuradha Sawhney on the CZA Zoo elephant ban

>

> Please contact Peta India Mentor, Ms. Anuradha Sawhney or their Lawyer

> Mr. Jayasimha N.G

> Their emails: " Anuradha Sawhney "

<anuradhas<anuradhas%40petaindia.org>>,

> " Jayasimha

> N.G. " <jayasimhang <jayasimhang%40petaindia.org>>.

>

> You can also try them on their phone numbers as they are pretty close to

> you in Pune.

>

> Thanks

>

>

> On Tue, Nov 17, 2009 at 9:27 AM, NileshBhanage

> <NileshBhanage <NileshBhanage%40asbi.co.in>> wrote:

> Can anyone get the link or document paper on actual ban from CZA to us?

>

> Regards,

> Nilesh

> PAWS

>

>

> azam24x7 [azam24x7 <azam24x7%40gmail.com>]

> Monday, November 16, 2009 11:06 AM

> AAPN List

> (IN): Anuradha Sawhney on the CZA Zoo elephant ban

>

> http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=VE9JTS8yMDA5LzExLzE

> 1I0FyMDA1MDI=

>

> Times of India Mumbai;

> Nov 15, 2009;Section: Times Features;Page: 5

>

> ANIMAL INSTINCT

>

> The jumbo brigade packs its trunk

>

> Behind the Central Zoo Authority's recent decision to ban elephants in

> zoos and circuses was a mammoth struggle

>

> *Anuradha Sawhney *

>

> It happened almost as soon as People for the Ethical Treatment of

> Animals (PETA) first launched in India in 2000. We turned our attention

> to

> the four elephants in the Mumbai zoo and then to those in other zoos and

> circuses. Everywhere we went, we found that these gentle giants-who in

> the

> wild live in herds, who care for their babies till they are almost nine

> years old and who mourn for their lost babies for almost 19 years-were

> in

> horrifying condition. They were in captivity, kept constantly chained,

> never

> exercised, made to stand in their own excreta, fed substandard food,

> beaten

> regularly and not given adequate food or water. The Ahmedabad zoo

> elephants

> were shackled with chains which had spikes on the inside, so that even

> the

> slightest movement resulted in their skin being pierced.

>

> The circuses were as bad, if not worse. Elephants, who for years

> have

> been revered, had been turned into a parody of their magnificent cousins

> in

> the wild by insensitive circus owners who made them play cricket, stand

> on

> one leg whilst balancing on a stool, balance humans on their trunk and

> other

> asinine tricks. Their handlers thought nothing of poking them with an

> ankus

> to force them to obey. And when they were not entertaining circus goers,

> these poor animals were kept fettered by chains on three legs (on

> occasion

> even four) outside the circus tents, with inadequate food, no constant

> source of water, no mud to have mud baths, and being gawked at by all

> and

> sundry.

>

> Saddened and angered at the cruelty inflicted on them, my staffers

> and I

> prepared report after report on how these creatures suffered in

> different

> zoos and circuses and sent them over eight years to the government,

> which

> remained totally indifferent. We used film stars-Rahul Khanna and Celina

> Jaitley-to create awareness about the torture inflicted upon elephants

> in

> captivity, but to no avail.

>

> Then in 2008, I read a news report which gave me a shock. It said

> the

> Central Zoo Authority (CZA), the only authority who could do something

> for

> elephants in captivity, had decided to turn the responsibility over to

> the

> Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI), which has no authority under the

> Wildlife Protection Act, under which Elephants are supposedly protected.

> CZA

> undoubtedly saw this as the easiest way out. Alarmed, I immediately

> wrote an

> impassioned letter not just to CZA but to the Chairman of AWBI as well

> as to

> the Ministry of Environments and Forests, telling them how the

> provisions of

> the Wild Protection Act were being violated by the zoos and circuses and

> how

> it was imperative that the ministry immediately ban the keeping of

> elephants

> by zoos and circuses. I even got an opinion from an advocate, Raj

> Panjwani,

> as to how CZA, which has

>

> been formulated under the Wildlife Protection Act, could not wash its

> hands

> of the issue. PETA got ready to go to court if the need arose.

>

> Late last year, after our letter, a news report appeared which said

> that

> MOEF could be considering a ban on elephants working in circuses and

> zoos.

> Despite much effort, we were unable to get more information, and so

> decided

> to send more reports on the suffering of elephants to MOEF and CZA,

> stressing why a ban was imperative. And then we prayed.

>

> Well, God evidently heard us. After eight long years, CZA confirmed

> vide

> its circular of November 7, 2009, that all captive elephants in zoos and

> circuses needed to be rehabilitated in elephant camps/rehabilitation

> camps/facilities available with the forest department under the

> supervision

> of the chief wildlife wardens of the state. Our long struggle has

> ended-and

> with it the misery of hundreds of captive elephants.

>

> (The writer is ex-head of PETA and co-opted member of AWBI)

>

> --

> http://www.stopelephantpolo.com

> http://www.freewebs.com/azamsiddiqui

>

> ---

>

> For more information on Asian animal issues, please use the search

> feature on the AAPN website: http://www.aapn.org/ or search the list

> archives at: aapn

> Please feel free to send any relevant news or comments to the list at

> aapn <aapn%40>

> AAPN is not responsible for and does not necessarily endorse the

> opinions/inputs of the contributors.