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About PETA
PETA wins relief for 19 circus animals.
New Rescue!
Upon receiving an anonymous tip, PETA volunteers rushed to Mumbai’s international airport, where four small antelopes of the Kirk dik-dik species were found crammed inside a tiny crate hardly bigger than the size of their bodies. The antelopes had been shipped illegally to India from Tanzania. Two of the antelopes had been wounded from nails protruding into the crate, and all four were in a state of shock. The antelopes had been made to go without food and water for more than 28 hours. The antelopes were confiscated by the volunteers and rushed to a veterinary clinic.
In the past few months, PETA has rescued many animals from horrible conditions. In Pune, as a nominee to the Committee for the Purpose, Control and Supervision of Experiments upon Animals (CPCSEA), our chief functionary, Anuradha Sawhney, went into the National Institute of Virology (NIV) and discovered that the animals there, in addition to being experimented upon, were being made to live in horrible conditions. This just days after the former union health minister, Dr C.P. Thakur, said that laboratories could be trusted to regulate themselves.
The conditions at NIV were appalling. Ms Sawhney found animals kept in filthy, small enclosures with no access to clean food or water. The rats and mice at NIV were being fed a wet gruel which was thrown on top of their bedding material, and as a result of this, both the bedding material and the food were contaminated. The geese were in a room which had a tub but no water in which to swim, tightly closed windows and only foul water to drink. The rabbits were in cages which were the size of their bodies, so they had no room to turn around or move in.
There were two sheep and two goats there, all with matted fur and hooves so long that they were unable to walk. The monkeys were kept in five rooms with no light or fan fixtures. Many of the monkeys had skin problems, some of them had digits missing from their hands and legs (making it difficult for them to grip anything) and some of them had no teeth yet had been given raw carrots to chew on. Some of the monkeys were circling in their cages (a sure sign of zoochosis — a term which refers to the madness that animals suffer in captivity). Others were paralysed with arthritis because they had no room to move about or exercise. They had been given rotten food and water that had mosquito larvae in it. Some of the cages did not have tubes for the monkeys to drink the water out of, and they were expected to scoop the water out with their hands even though they had digits missing.
As a result of our exposé, the CPCSEA ordered the confiscation of the 37 monkeys and two of the goats. These animals were taken to a rehabilitation facility in Pune where today they are learning to live again. None of these monkeys had ever seen a tree (they had been in cages for the last 15 to 18 years and are now being taught tree-climbing skills). They are being taught to hunt for their food. Most of them are very sick, as the NIV had neglected their health and failed even to keep health records on the animals.
PETA was also recently able to secure the release of 14 animals from the Grand National Circus. We were able to rescue eight adult lions, four lion cubs and two tigers from the terrors of circus life and to get them rehabilitated in a sanctuary in Tirupathi set up especially for circus animals in March 2002. Today, the lions are really kings there, with lots of land to roam about in, the cubs have water and trees and space to jump about and play and the tigers are able to stretch their legs (they were earlier kept in cages which were the size of their bodies, making it impossible for them to move).
In May 2002, we rescued 10 geese from two outlets in Mumbai, where they were being kept in atrocious conditions. Three were from a restaurant and seven from a furniture showroom. The geese from the restaurant had no water to swim in and were given rotten food to eat. One had a broken wing that had never been fixed,
and one had a mutilated claw. The owners were planning to make a small water tank in which these geese would swim and thus entertain the diners eating inside. The geese from the showroom did not have any kind of shelter from the sun and the rain, and they had filthy water to swim in. Today, all of these animals have been rehabilitated with people who have given them access to clean water and space to run about in and — most importantly — love them for who they are and do not view them merely as a means to attract business.
Our campaign to alleviate the suffering of cattle, goats and other animals in transport and slaughter has also made history. For the first time ever, cruelty to animals who end up as leather bags and hamburgers was acknowledged at the prime minister’s level. Prime Minister Vajpayee sent a directive to all state governments asking them to crack down on this abuse. The Indian Council for Leather Exports have now agreed to take up an animal welfare programme to alleviate the suffering of animals in their supply chain, and foreign companies are also pledging their support. Activists all over the country have stopped vehicles on their way to slaughter that were so illegally overcrowded, the animals inside had gotten crushed or died, have rescued the surviving animals and provided them with veterinary care and have taken legal action against the transporters. Activists have also raided unlicensed abattoirs and are pushing their local governments to take stronger action. Celebrities have also spoken up, with Hemant Trevedi quitting Chennai’s International Leather Fair and announcing that he will no longer design using leather.
Our victories for animals depend on activists who refuse to forget about the neglected or abused animals they encounter. Remember, good intentions are sometimes not good enough. It is easy to get active for animals, to speak out rather than to walk away and try to wish away the suffering — and the animals desperately need your voice. Not sure where to start? Contact PETA for advice, contact information and support. Also, check out our Guide to Becoming an Activist.
The victories for animals listed above were won only because someone cared and took the time to make a difference. With your help, we can add more PETA victories to this page. Please always be that someone who cares — the animals are counting on you not to forget their suffering.
PETA India Victories!
Success Stories
PETA India opened its doors in January 2000. Take a moment to read about just some of what our team of activists has accomplished since then!
PETA wins relief for 19 circus animals.
Ten tigers and nine lions have been moved from Empire Circus to Nahargarh, a rescue centre and sanctuary outside Jaipur. These animals were forced by the circus to live in cages barely larger than the sizes of their bodies but now, for the first time in their lives, finally have some peace and freedom.
As a result of a lawsuit filed by PETA against the state of Maharashtra and Empire Circus, the court ruled that until the case is settled, these animals, who are banned from performing, according to a May 2001 Supreme Court ruling and a government notification dated 14th October 1998, should be sent to the rescue centre. Additionally, the court has ordered that Empire Circus cannot make the remaining animals perform since this circus has failed to register itself with the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI), which is required by law. However, Empire Circus continues to use the remaining animals for performances.
During investigations of Empire Circus, PETA documented many shocking cases of cruelty. PETA found elephants kept shackled by three legs, dogs confined to tiny cages, horses tied with short ropes and cockatoos confined to cages without a perch, forcing them to hold onto the sides.
The case is currently waiting to be heard in the Supreme Court.
New Rescue!
Upon receiving an anonymous tip, PETA volunteers rushed to Mumbai’s international airport, where four small antelopes of the Kirk dik-dik species were found crammed inside a tiny crate hardly bigger than the size of their bodies. The antelopes had been shipped illegally to India from Tanzania. Two of the antelopes had been wounded from nails protruding into the crate, and all four were in a state of shock. The antelopes had been made to go without food and water for more than 28 hours. The antelopes were confiscated by the volunteers and rushed to a veterinary clinic.
In the past few months, PETA has rescued many animals from horrible conditions. In Pune, as a nominee to the Committee for the Purpose, Control and Supervision of Experiments upon Animals (CPCSEA), our chief functionary, Anuradha Sawhney, went into the National Institute of Virology (NIV) and discovered that the animals there, in addition to being experimented upon, were being made to live in horrible conditions. This just days after the former union health minister, Dr C.P. Thakur, said that laboratories could be trusted to regulate themselves.
The conditions at NIV were appalling. Ms Sawhney found animals kept in filthy, small enclosures with no access to clean food or water. The rats and mice at NIV were being fed a wet gruel which was thrown on top of their bedding material, and as a result of this, both the bedding material and the food were contaminated. The geese were in a room which had a tub but no water in which to swim, tightly closed windows and only foul water to drink. The rabbits were in cages which were the size of their bodies, so they had no room to turn around or move in.There were two sheep and two goats there, all with matted fur and hooves so long that they were unable to walk. The monkeys were kept in five rooms with no light or fan fixtures. Many of the monkeys had skin problems, some of them had digits missing from their hands and legs (making it difficult for them to grip anything) and some of them had no teeth yet had been given raw carrots to chew on. Some of the monkeys were circling in their cages (a sure sign of zoochosis — a term which refers to the madness that animals suffer in captivity). Others were paralysed with arthritis because they had no room to move about or exercise. They had been given rotten food and water that had mosquito larvae in it. Some of the cages did not have tubes for the monkeys to drink the water out of, and they were expected to scoop the water out with their hands even though they had digits missing.
As a result of our exposé, the CPCSEA ordered the confiscation of the 37 monkeys and two of the goats. These animals were taken to a rehabilitation facility in Pune where today they are learning to live again. None of these monkeys had ever seen a tree (they had been in cages for the last 15 to 18 years and are now being taught tree-climbing skills). They are being taught to hunt for their food. Most of them are very sick, as the NIV had neglected their health and failed even to keep health records on the animals.
PETA was also recently able to secure the release of 14 animals from the Grand National Circus. We were able to rescue eight adult lions, four lion cubs and two tigers from the terrors of circus life and to get them rehabilitated in a sanctuary in Tirupathi set up especially for circus animals in March 2002. Today, the lions are really kings there, with lots of land to roam about in, the cubs have water and trees and space to jump about and play and the tigers are able to stretch their legs (they were earlier kept in cages which were the size of their bodies, making it impossible for them to move). In May 2002, we rescued 10 geese from two outlets in Mumbai, where they were being kept in atrocious conditions. Three were from a restaurant and seven from a furniture showroom. The geese from the restaurant had no water to swim in and were given rotten food to eat. One had a broken wing that had never been fixed,
and one had a mutilated claw. The owners were planning to make a small water tank in which these geese would swim and thus entertain the diners eating inside. The geese from the showroom did not have any kind of shelter from the sun and the rain, and they had filthy water to swim in. Today, all of these animals have been rehabilitated with people who have given them access to clean water and space to run about in and — most importantly — love them for who they are and do not view them merely as a means to attract business.Our campaign to alleviate the suffering of cattle, goats and other animals in transport and slaughter has also made history. For the first time ever, cruelty to animals who end up as leather bags and hamburgers was acknowledged at the prime minister’s level. Prime Minister Vajpayee sent a directive to all state governments asking them to crack down on this abuse. The Indian Council for Leather Exports have now agreed to take up an animal welfare programme to alleviate the suffering of animals in their supply chain, and foreign companies are also pledging their support. Activists all over the country have stopped vehicles on their way to slaughter that were so illegally overcrowded, the animals inside had gotten crushed or died, have rescued the surviving animals and provided them with veterinary care and have taken legal action against the transporters. Activists have also raided unlicensed abattoirs and are pushing their local governments to take stronger action. Celebrities have also spoken up, with Hemant Trevedi quitting Chennai’s International Leather Fair and announcing that he will no longer design using leather.
Our victories for animals depend on activists who refuse to forget about the neglected or abused animals they encounter. Remember, good intentions are sometimes not good enough. It is easy to get active for animals, to speak out rather than to walk away and try to wish away the suffering — and the animals desperately need your voice. Not sure where to start? Contact PETA for advice, contact information and support. Also, check out our Guide to Becoming an Activist.
The victories for animals listed above were won only because someone cared and took the time to make a difference. With your help, we can add more PETA victories to this page. Please always be that someone who cares — the animals are counting on you not to forget their suffering.
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