Animal rights body jumps to elephant’s defence

Chennai, Feb 7 (PTI) Days after the Madras High Court advised authorities not to put a roaming jumbo to any discomfort, an animal rights body Thursday urged the state government to keep ‘Chinnathambi’ in the tusker’s natural forest home.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India also advised the government to adopt only humane and scientific methods to protect crops and villages or to translocate the animal to another forested area, if necessary.

PETA said compassionate methods such as planting chillies around farm perimeters can be adopted while dealing with human-elephant conflict, citing the example of farmers in Africa dealing with such problems.

The animal rights body also urged the government to incorporate adequate town planning as an anecdote to the increasing encounters between elephants and humans.

Some humane methods for managing human-elephant conflicts include restoring elephants’ habitats, strengthening anti-poaching efforts, and working with villages located in critical elephant corridors, PETA said in a statement.

“In Africa, farmers have successfully kept elephants away from crops by planting chillies around farm perimeters,” it said, adding the body has also written to the State forest department on this.

The court recently sought response from the principal conservator of forests by February 11 to a plea seeking a direction to prevent authorities from capturing, taming, tranquilising or harming ‘Chinnathambi’ which has been venturing into human habitats.

In an interim order, the court said the jumbo should not, in anyway, be put through any physical discomfort.

The 25-year-old jumbo fitted with a radio-collar was translocated from the outskirts of Coimbatore to Varagaliar by forest department personnel on January 25, but within days, it ventured into human habitations again.

It was translocated following complaints from residents about the elephant destroying crops and damaging houses for the last seven months.

PETA said it was relieved to read that the government did not plan to turn ‘Chinnathambi’ into a ‘kumki’ (tamed elephant) and urged authorities to adopt humane methods to protect crops.

This is published unedited from the PTI feed.

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PETA asks farmers to grow chilies to prevent elephants from entering fields

Chennai : People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India has jumped to the aid of pachyderm Chinna Thambi asking the Tamil Nadu government to keep the elephant in its natural forest home. The animal rights body said the government should take only humane, scientific methods to protect crops and villages or to translocate him to another forested area, if necessary.Citing the example of how Africans save themselves from elephants, the animal rights body asked the government to ask the farmers to grow chillies along the perimeters of their agricultural fields. These would ensure elephants wont destroy crops, the Peta said.The Peta asked the government to issues guidelines regarding the adoption of effective, compassionate methods for dealing with human-elephant conflicts – including appropriate urban planning that protects or restores forestland – and advised that African farmers have successfully kept elephants away from crops by planting chilies (which can be harvested and sold) around farm perimeters.“Keeping elephants in captivity is inherently cruel, as they are forced to obey commands under threat of violence, fear, and pain,” says PETA India Emergency Response Assistant Neha Chaturvedi. “The natural habitat of Chinna Thambi and other elephants must be conserved and restored, and the state government should work with villages to protect crops by planting chilies and adopting other humane measures.”Last week the Madras High Court advised that Chinna Thambi not be subjected to any physical discomfort. It also expressed concern that earth movers are being used to lift tranquilized, captured elephants and that Chinna Thambi previously sustained injuries, including broken tusks, during his capture and failed translocation.

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PETA backs Centre’s proposal for banning animals in circus

NEW DELHI: Animal rights body PETA India on Monday submitted a petition to the Environment Ministry backing the Centre’s proposal to ban the use of animals in circuses. If this proposal passes, India would join many other countries, including Austria, Bolivia, Costa Rica, Greece, Mexico and Poland, in banning or restricting the use of animals in circuses. The petition was signed by over 8,000 people, including celebrities such as Raveena Tandon, Sonu Sood, Shilpa Shetty Kundra, John Abraham, R Madhavan, Dia Mirza and Sunny Leone.

Students from Mumbai’s Ajmera Global School, Delhi’s Vishal Bharti Public School and Chennai’s German International School had also signed the petition. “It is never been clearer that the days of forcing intelligent, sensitive animals to perform confusing and often painful tricks for fleeting human amusement are numbered,” PETA India’s associate director (celebrity and public relations) Sachin Bangera said.

In a draft notification on November 28, the Environment Ministry had invited comments from various stakeholders on the issue within 30 days.“India is poised to make a great leap to protect animals, and every kind celebrity and youngster who teamed up with PETA, India, to help push this revolutionary legislation forward will be remembered on the right side of history.”

In 2013, the government-authorised inspection of 16 circuses across India ‘ as well as other inspections by expert teams from 2013 to 2016 ‘ revealed systemic, widespread abuse of elephants, horses, birds, and other animals.Drunken circus staff roughly handled animals, handlers were documented beating elephants with ‘ankuses’ (weapons with a sharp metal hook on one end), and animals were kept continuously chained or caged and deprived of veterinary care, appropriate food, sufficient water, and safe and clean shelter, PETA India said. With Agency inputs

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Kohli bats for rescue of Jaipur tourist elephant

NEW DELHI: India´s cricket captain Virat Kohli called Thursday for a captive elephant being maltreated and used for tourist rides in a tourist hotspot to be relocated to a rehabilitation facility.

Kohli´s plea comes after a group of American tourists had witnessed eight men violently beating the elephant at the famous Amer Fort in Jaipur last year.

Kohli on behalf of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India has written a letter to the state minister of Rajasthan to rescue the elephant, known as "Number 44".

"As a professional cricketer, I am proud to represent our country, but when I learned about the hateful attack on Number 44 last June, I felt so ashamed," wrote Kohli, currently on tour in Australia.

"Violence against animals is completely unacceptable, not to mention illegal, and our nation cannot fail elephants this way.

"...I beseech you to start helping them by transferring Number 44 to a reputable rehabilitation facility where she can get the care she needs, socialise with others of her kind, and live free from chains, abuse, and fear."

Kohli´s letter follows PETA India´s complaint to the state´s forest department, which resulted in a notice being issued to Number 44´s custodian, Wasid Khan, holding him responsible for the abuse.

Tens of thousands of tourists visit the Amer Fort, a medieval complex on a hilltop outside Jaipur also known as the Amber Fort, every year and many opt to enter its imposing gates on an elephant.

A report commissioned by the Animal Welfare Board of India early this year revealed that 19 elephants used to ferry visitors were blind or vision impaired while nine others had tuberculosis.

The report also said that the captive elephants were unfit for safaris and that carrying people on their backs endangered both the elephants and tourists alike.

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Kohli calls for relocation of Jaipur elephant

New Delhi, November 29

Indian cricket captain Virat Kohli on Thursday penned a letter on behalf of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India, calling on Rajasthan’s forest and environment minister to relocate an elephant, known as ‘Number 44’, to a rehabilitation facility.

A group of American tourists had witnessed eight men violently beating an elephant at Amber Fort in June last year, and the animal is still being forced to give rides.

“As a professional cricketer, I am proud to represent our country, but when I learned about the hateful attack on ‘Number 44’ last June, I felt so ashamed,” Kohli wrote in the letter.

“Violence against animals is completely unacceptable, not to mention illegal, and our nation cannot fail elephants this way. I beseech you to start helping them by transferring Number 44 to a reputable rehabilitation facility where she can get the care she needs, socialise with others of her kind, and live free from chains, abuse, and fear.”

Kohli’s letter follows PETA India’s complaint to the chief wildlife warden of the Rajasthan Forest Department, which resulted in a show-cause notice being issued to ‘Number 44’s’ custodian, Wasid Khan, holding him responsible for the abuse.

The notice stated that an investigation carried out by the regional forest officer for Jaipur Zoo along with a photograph supplied by the American witness indicated that the elephant was treated cruelly, in apparent violation of numerous animal-protection laws.

The Jaipur police also registered an FIR against the unidentified men under Sections 429 and 289 of the Indian Penal Code for mistreating the elephant and putting the public at risk. However, Khan continues to use the animal for rides.

PETA India—whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to use for entertainment” — notes that captive elephants, such as the ones forced to give rides in Jaipur, are controlled under the threat of beatings.

They are often denied adequate food and veterinary care, and routinely suffer from foot problems and arthritis because they’re forced to stand on hard surfaces for long periods of time. Many develop neurotic forms of behaviour and die prematurely. — PTI

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Centre proposes ban on all animals in circuses

NEW DELHI: Already a shrinking business, the curtain seems set to descend on circuses in India, with the Centre's new draft rules banning the use of all animals in any mobile entertainment. Once approved after a mandatory period when comments will be sought, circuses will not have any "animal performer". As things stood, the use of big cats like tigers and lions — long associated with the popular entertainment — was already banned. Now there will no horses, hippos, elephants, or even dogs. The rules meet the long-pending demands of animal rights activists and will serve to eliminate the maltreatment of animals who are forced to live in confined spaces and perform acts that are painful and not in keeping with their natural instincts. It will spell relief for animals who go through the ordeal of training that is often coercive. The absence of animals limits the business of circuses to human performers and could accelerate its decline as a popular and relatively inexpensive entertainment. The romance of the circus, fading steadily over the years, will dim further as even human performers like trapeze artists, clowns, knife-throwers and contortionists are a dying trade. "No animals shall be used for any performances or exhibition at any circus or mobile entertainment facility," said the draft rules called the Performing Animals (Registration) Amendment Rules, 2018. "The People For Animals (PFA) had requested the environment ministry repeatedly for an amendment in the rules to put an end to abuse of animals for unnatural performances in circuses and cruelty in the name of entertainment. After giving several chances to circus operators, this change is progressive and inevitable," said animal rights activist Gauri Maulekhi, associated with the organisation. "A ban on the use of animals in circuses would bring India in line with other countries that have already made this move and show the world that this is a progressive, compassionate nation that won't tolerate animal abuse," said PETA India CEO Manilal Valliyate. The actual ban will come in force after 30 days during which the ministry of environment will receive suggestions from stakeholders. It will apply to the use of all such animals which are currently being used in circuses or exhibitions like horses, dogs, exotic species of parrots, elephants and hippopotamuses. Though the ministry had banned the use of lions, tigers, panthers, monkeys, bears and bulls in 2011 as part of its speciesspecific rules, the new draft will now be applicable for all animals across the country. Maulekhi told TOI that though the Animal Welfare Board of India had taken note of the cruelty and derecognised most circuses, the implementation was a challenge in the absence of a "clear cut and comprehensive order". The draft clearly defines "circus" by adding a new clause, saying it "means a large public entertainment, typically presented in one or more very large tents or in an outdoor or indoor arena, featuring exhibitions of pageantry, feats of skill and daring, performing animals, etc". The Central Zoo Authority had earlier withdrawn recognition for use of elephants in circuses, but the operators used to violate it in absence of clarity in the existing rules by approaching various courts. On receiving a large number of complaints, CZA cancelled the recognition of most circuses, but the process is a long and tedious one, riddled with appeals and litigation, during which animals continue to languish. Under the 2011 rules, the listed animals cannot be used (tamed or trained) even for advertisement purposes.

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Virat Kohli Calls For Release of Beaten Jaipur Elephant Still Used For Rides

Mumbai – Indian cricket team captain Virat Kohli fired off a letter on behalf of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India calling on Rajasthan Minister for Forest, Environment, Youth Affairs and Sports to take action and relocate an elephant, known only as “Number 44”, to a rehabilitation facility for urgent care. Kohli’s plea comes after a group of American tourists witnessed eight men violently beating the elephant at Amber Fort in June 2017 – yet over a year later, she’s still being forced to give rides.

“As a professional cricketer, I am proud to represent our country, but when I learned about the hateful attack on Number 44 last June, I felt so ashamed,” Kohli writes. “Violence against animals is completely unacceptable, not to mention illegal, and our nation cannot fail elephants this way. . . . I beseech you to start helping them by transferring Number 44 to a reputable rehabilitation facility where she can get the care she needs, socialise with others of her kind, and live free from chains, abuse, and fear.”

Kohli’s letter follows PETA India’s complaint to the Chief Wildlife Warden of the Rajasthan Forest Department, which resulted in a show-cause notice being issued to Number 44’s custodian, Wasid Khan, holding him responsible for the abuse. The notice stated that an investigation carried out by the Regional Forest Officer for Jaipur Zoo – as well as a photograph supplied by the American witness – indicated that the elephant was treated cruelly, in apparent violation of numerous animal-protection laws. The Jaipur police also registered a First Information Report against unidentified men under Sections 429 and 289 of the Indian Penal Code for mistreating the elephant and putting the public at risk. However, Khan continues to use her for rides.

PETA India – whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to use for entertainment” – notes that captive elephants, such as the ones forced to give rides in Jaipur, are controlled under the threat of beatings, are often denied adequate food and veterinary care, and routinely suffer from foot problems and arthritis because they’re forced to stand on hard surfaces for long periods of time. Many develop neurotic forms of behaviour and die prematurely.

Kohli’s wife, Anushka Sharma, has also condemned the plight of “Number 44” on social media.

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