FIR against Great Bombay Circus for lacerating birds’ wings
2 min read
Mysuru: After receiving a complaint from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India, Mysuru police registered a first information report (FIR) on October 9 against the proprietor of Great Bombay Circus for cutting the wings of birds used in its performances, to prevent them from flying away.
The PETA India investigator further observed that the circus was also using dogs and birds to perform acts which were not registered with the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) – for instance, the dogs are made to walk sideways on their front legs on the edge of the ring, while the birds are made to pull a miniature cart as another bird balances on it.
The AWBI is the prescribed authority under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PCA) Act, 1960, which regulates the use of animals for performances in the country.
The FIR was registered at Nazarbad police station, Mysuru, for a cognisable offence under Section 429 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860, for maiming the birds. Further, the FIR also records violation of sections 3 and 11(1)(a) (for causing unnecessary and pain and suffering to animals, 11(1) (l) (for mutilation of birds), and sections 26 and 38 (for performing unregistered acts/tricks) of the PCA Act, 1960.
MP Maneka Gandhi also extended her support to get the FIR registered.
“To prevent birds from exercising their natural right of flying, circuses repeatedly lacerate birds’ wings and then jail them in cages,” says PETA India Deputy Director of Advocacy Projects Harshil Maheshwari. “PETA India urges families to support only those forms of entertainment which use consenting humans.”
Several AWBI inspections and numerous investigations by PETA India prove that animal circuses are cruel: in them, animals are continuously chained or confined to small, barren cages; deprived of veterinary care and adequate food, water, and shelter; and denied everything that’s natural and important to them. Through physical abuse with weapons, they’re forced to perform confusing, uncomfortable, and even painful tricks. Many display stereotypic, repetitive behaviour indicative of extreme stress.
PETA India – whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to use for entertainment” – opposes speciesism, a human-supremacist worldview. For more information, please visit PETAIndia.com or follow the group on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram.
Contact:
Hiraj Laljani 9619167382; HirajL@petaindia.org
Monica Chopra 9167907382; MonicaC@petaindia.org
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