Government bodies' notice to circuses hailed

PETA India Tuesday welcomed the notice issued by two government bodies to circus owners following an investigation.

The Central Zoo Authority (CZA) and the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) issued notice in December 2013 and February 2014, respectively, to circus owners.

This followed a nine-month investigation of 16 circuses across India by a team, including representatives from PETA India and Animal Rahat, that extend help to neglected animals.

PETA India's investigation of circuses was conducted from November 2012 to July 2013. The findings included rampant use of weapons; reports of animals who had died from inadequate care; near constant chaining and caging and severe confinement of animals.

"CZA's action follows news report of Moonlight Circus animals, left hungry in Goa, after the circus owner was arrested for alleged rape and human trafficking," a PETA statement said.

The CZA, in its show cause notice, conveyed it was considering withdrawing the recognition of circuses as "captive animal facility", making them an illegal establishment to keep the custody of wild animals such as elephants.

"Had the government followed the lead of numerous other nations by banning the archaic and cruel use of animals in circuses, the animals being left hungry by the Moonlight Circus and so many other cruelties could have been prevented," said Poorva Joshipura, chief executive officer, PETA India.

"We hope the recent Moonlight Circus fiasco acts as a wake-up call to the government for a ban on the use of animals in circuses," she added.

PETA India is now calling on the ministry of environment and forests to ban the use of animals in circuses as has been done in Cyprus, Bolivia, Greece, Bosnia and Herzegovina.