Voicing concern over cruel treatment meted out to camels, an animal rights group has called on Kerala government to stop their use to amuse tourists.
The demand from the "Heritage Animal Task Force" came in the wake of reports of a camel being tortured brutally by its trainer at a tourist resort in Alappuzha.
In a letter to the Chief Secretary, the the rights group said a large number of camels are being exploited in violation of norms at tourist centres across Kerala, especially in places like Kollam, Thrissur, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Thiruvananthapuram and Kasaragod.
In the recent incident, media visuals showed the trainer flogging mercilessly a camel while trying to tame it. A case has been registered against the trainer after the incident triggered protests.
"Kerala's topographical features and climatic conditions are not conducive for camels. But many people misuse camels by arranging camel safari from dawn to dusk in tourist spots and beaches," the Taskforce said.
This is a cruel practice as per the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PCA) Act, 1960, it said.
Majority of camels are being brought to the state and exploited without the mandatory certificate by the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) as per the Performing Animals (Registration) rule 2001, which is a non-bailable offence, it said.
The group also demanded strict action against those who ill-treat the animal for making money in tourist centres across the state.
