Animal rights group writes to MoEF against bull race

An animal rights group has asked the Centre to take stern action against conducting of bull races in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.

In a recent letter to the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests, the group, 'Heritage Animal Task Force' said though the rural sport had already been banned by the Supreme Court, it was still prevalent in some parts of the southern states during festive seasons.

Quoting media reports, the group stated that a farmer's collective "organised" a bull race at Pullaloor near Kozhikode in Kerala last week.

Bullock cart races were being organised in various places in Kottayam, Alappuzha, Ernakulam, Thrichur, Palakkad, Kannur, Kozhikkode, Malappuram and Kasarkode districts of Kerala as part of the "Onam" festival, it said.
 

The group also urged the government to issue strict orders to Chief Secretaries and DGPs of the respective states to implement the apex court order strictly.