According to writer Anne Morrow Lindbergh, the trials of motherhood make mums the great vacationless class. Although she may have been talking about the human variety, other animals show the same tireless dedication to their children. PETA hopes that this Mother's Day, while you are praising your family's matriarch, you'll also remember that some of the best mums in the world are found in the animal kingdom.

Seals
Human mothers who tune in to Channel Mum may find themselves responding to anybody's child when they hear someone calling the "M word", but fur seals never make this mistake. Fresh from foraging for food, mums have to find their young quickly in a sea of hundreds – or possibly thousands – of seals, so both mother and pup depend on their uncanny powers of vocal recognition to find one another. Both of them will call out and answer, responding selectively to one another until they are reunited.

Elephants
The TLC that these mammoth mothers bestow on their babies is one of their most engaging qualities. Always ready to give an affectionate caress, a gentle nudge in the right direction, or a cool bath to help their babies beat the heat, doting mums maintain constant physical contact with their young ones, never allowing them to stray too far from their side. Mothers even stay in touch with their adult kids and enjoy close relationships with their daughters that can last up to 50 years.

Cows
For cows and their calves, it's love at first sight. The first minutes after birth are spent developing a bond that will last a lifetime. Throughout life, mother and child maintain social contact and regularly enjoy each other's companionship. Their attachment and affection for each other is so deep that if they are forced apart, they both endure severe stress. Mums have been known to escape their enclosures and travel for miles as they look for their calves.

Dolphins
Dolphins are known for graceful synchronised swimming, but dolphin mothers and their babies also synchronise their breathing for the first few weeks following their babies' birth. These dedicated mums may nurse their young for up to 10 years and will also mentor less experienced females by allowing them to babysit as practice for when they have babies of their own.

Cheetahs
Let's hear it for single mums! These lightning-fast felines have their paws full as they care for their cubs all on their own. Not only does mum protect her children from predators while she is nursing them, she also hunts for them from the time they are weaned until they are 14 to 18 months old. Overly active offspring can make the task of hunting even harder: Cubs often scare hunted animals away with their animated antics, leaving mum so worn out that she sometimes falls asleep in the middle of a hunt.

Chickens
Nurturing begins in the nest for these caring mums. Mother hens will turn their eggs as many as five times an hour and cluck softly to their unborn chicks, who chirp back to her and to one another from within their shells! Once chicks hatch, devoted mums use their wings to shield their babies from predators and have been known to refuse to leave their nests during a fire if they have newly hatched peeps.

This Mother's Day, please take a moment to recognise the unique bond between mothers and children of all species. For ways to practice kindness and compassion in honour of all animal mums, please see our action alerts.

Dolphins don't belong in tanks, and India seems to be making sure that they won't be put there.

When PETA India learned that state governments were aiming to build dolphin parks in Tamil Nadu, Noida, Kochi in Kerala, and Maharashtra, we immediately got in touch with the Minister of Environment and Forests, Jayanthi Natarajan. We reminded her that the Animal Welfare Board of India has not issued any performance certificates for cetaceans and has decided not to issue performance certificates for cetaceans in the future – therefore, any attempt to import these animals for the purpose of display and performance would be in violation of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, and rules framed under it.

"In their rightful ocean homes, dolphins establish close, cooperative and long-standing relationships", says PETA India Corporate and Government Affairs Liaison Sarfaraz Syed. "They live in large, intricate social groups, swim together in family pods and can travel up to 100 miles a day. In aquariums and marine parks, these animals can swim only in endless circles in enclosures that to them are like bathtubs and are unable to engage in most natural behaviours. They are forced to perform silly tricks for food and are frequently torn away from family members as they're shuffled between parks."

This week, Natarajan announced that the ministry will not allow dolphinaria.

PETA will continue to urge state governments to drop their plans. You can help! Take action here.

Raise your hand if you think that the best way to celebrate someone is to kill and eat them. (If your hand is up, please don't come to my birthday party!)

Sounds ridiculous, right? But that is essentially what's happening at the Tamil Nadu Fish Festival, where some fish are being displayed in an aquarium for people to admire (not much fun for the fish), while others are being served up for festival attendees to eat (absolutely no fun for the fish). So PETA India fired off an urgent letter to the Tamil Nadu Minister of Fisheries asking him make the festival vegan instead.

In the letter, PETA points out that the Tamil Nadu Fish Festival also lacked permission from the Animal Welfare Board of India to display fish in an aquarium – which is all the more reason to drop the cruel idea entirely and make it a vegan celebration. Need more reasons? Fishing is horribly cruel to fish and many other aquatic animals, and it pollutes our oceans and rivers. Eating fish also puts your health at risk because fish flesh is contaminated with mercury and other heavy metals.

Our finned friends belong with their families and communities, not in tanks or on our plates. Please pledge to leave fish alone to live their lives in peace. Instead, you can enjoy humane, healthy and environmentally friendly vegan foods!

She's helped you through heaps of headaches and heartaches, and you can always count on your mom to be there for you any day of the week. So this Mother's Day, show your love for her and for animals by surprising her with one of the following 10 unique animal-friendly presents:

1)     Faux-Silk Saree: Wrap your mom in comfort and style with an exquisite Banarasi faux-silk or classic cotton saree. The best thing about giving your mom a cruelty-free saree (besides her joy in receiving it) is the fact that you won't be contributing to the "saree" fate of the approximately 9,750 silkworms who are boiled alive to make just one of these real-silk garments! 

2)     Lush Body and Bath Goodies: Pamper your mom with one or some of LUSH's many fresh handmade vegan products, such as the citrus Sexy Peel Soap or the gentle yet effective Celestial face moisturiser. With a wide variety of delushious bath and body treats and a firm policy against maiming and torturing animals in archaic product testing, it's hard not to gush about LUSH. 

3)     The Body Shop Fragrances: Whether you choose the latest summery fresh Dreams Unlimited or the ultra-feminine Moroccan Rose Eau de Toilette, your mom will think you're an angel for giving her such a heavenly scented gift! Check out PETA US' shopping guide for a list of even more cruelty-free companies.

4)     Designer Bags and Accessories: Your mom has never been one to follow the herd, so surprise her with an oh-so-classy, cow-free bag, purse, wallet or mobile phone holder from Baggit's leather-free line of must-have merchandise. You can also spice it up with fun slings, clutches and shoulder bags from Princesse K. After all, there's nothing trendy about toting around a tote made from the skins of tortured animals.

5)     Meatless Mother's Day Meal: Treat mom to dinner. Cook up a fabulous vegan feast after ordering delicious mock meats from Sunshine, or take her out to a local vegetarian restaurant. Your mom has a good heart, and the best way to keep it that way is with a low-fat, cholesterol-free vegan diet that wards off heart disease and keeps mom's ticker going strong for many Mother's Days to come. You can round off the perfect day with a selection of rich vegan chocs from C4 chocolates.

6)     Skin-Free Shoes:  Forget shoes that once mooed. Vegan shoes are available in just about every shoe shop. Leather production wreaks havoc on the environment, so choose shoes made from lightweight synthetic materials, and help mom reduce her carbon footprint – and look good doing it! Try out beautifully hand-crafted and innovative footwear by Veruschka.

7)     Spa Date: As light music and soft hands promise to ease the stress and knots of tension away, mom will just adore this thoughtful and ethical pampering session. So go ahead, treat her to a well-deserved wellness break.

8)     A Vacation With a Difference: Whisk your mom off to a nearby destination, and make it count. While there, visit an animal shelter and interact with the four-legged kind. You can make a difference, share a special experience and still have ample time to explore the sights.

9)     For the "Artsy" Mom: Take your pick from must-see plays, photography exhibitions and art shows in your city. Time Out India is a great place to discover current and upcoming events. You can't go wrong with surprise tickets to her favourite production. It beats heading to the circus or zoo for a "fun" day out to watch miserable animals.

10)   Mix It Up: An original gift hamper is always a special present and perfect for every occasion. Mix and match from our extensive cruelty-free companies list featuring a range of products from aromatherapy oils to home fragrances. This token of love and appreciation is a sure-fire win for making her feel really special.

Happy Mother's Day!

 Driver biting the tail of bull to force him to run.

In February, PETA investigators attended bull races in Pusegaon and Phadtarwadi and observed bulls who had their tails bitten and twisted by human participants and who were beaten continuously in order to force them to run. Irritants were put into bulls' mouths, and they were yanked by nose ropes, causing their noses to bleed. They were also forced to run and race even after they had collapsed.

Bulls are transported to these runs crammed in goods trucks. They are then tied without water or food in the scorching midday sun – with no shade – for up to six hours as they are made to wait to race.

Breaking Tails, Breaking the Law
When the bulls' tails are twisted and bent, the pain caused is similar to what a human would feel if someone snapped one of our fingers. As if causing this pain were not enough, bulls' tails were commonly bitten by the cart drivers and riders during the races. In some cases, the riders bit the bulls' tails for several seconds at a time while the animals ran to try to get away from the pain.

The findings of our investigation clearly show that bulls who are used in races are subjected to extreme cruelty and unmitigated suffering and that participants apparently violate The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, as well as a Supreme Court SLP Order directing that animals cannot be tortured or subjected to cruel treatment during races.

Yanking nose rope of collapsed bull.

Bull racing is, however, inherently cruel, as forcing bulls to race involves agitating, frightening or hurting them. Regulations of any kind won't negate the fundamental cruelty of deliberately tormenting bulls and forcing them to run. Bull races should be banned altogether.

People who care about animals should never participate in or even be spectators at a bull run. Put up a fight if you hear about bull-racing events in your area and e-mail us at Info@petaindia.org to let us know. We will work with you to try to stop it.

Amongst the jewellery, art, electronics and high-end cars, PETA was front and centre at The Indian Luxury Expo (TILE). which took place in Mumbai from April 26 to 28. Supermodel and actor Dipannita Sharma, who starred in Jodi Breakers and Ladies vs Ricky Bahl, launched the initiative. At TILE, PETA exhibited elegant animal-friendly fashions, chic synthetic-leather handbags, stylish leather-free shoes, trendy cosmetics that weren't tested on animals, delectable dairy-free chocolates and gourmet mock meats. PETA featured the products of more than a dozen progressive companies and designers, including Anita Dongre, Anupama Dayal, Rina Shah, The Body Shop and Baggit. The theme of PETA's newest initiative? "ExtraVEGANza – Be Classy Without Cruelty."

Many cows, buffaloes and other animals used for meat and leather are dismembered and skinned while they are still conscious, and runoff from leather tanneries has been linked to cancer and respiratory infections. Snakes are often nailed to trees and skinned alive for their skin. More than 1,000 companies around the world have banned all animal tests, but many others still choose to subject animals to painful tests in which substances are smeared on their skin, sprayed in their faces or forced down their throats in notoriously unreliable tests. 

Thanks to cruelty-free cosmetics and stylish vegan clothing, shoes, bags and foods readily available just about anywhere that one shops, going vegan and enjoying the finer things in life can go hand-in-hand. Take PETA's pledge to go leather-free and treat yourself to the very best without mistreating animals.

The following is a list of designers and companies whose vegan products were showcased at the PETA stall:

• Amore
• Anita Dongre
• Anupama Dayal
• Aurum. Co Shoes
• Baggit
• C4 Chocolates
• Everbest Mock Meat
• Future Skin
• Krya
• Omved
• Princesse K
• Rina Shah
• Senso Vegetarian Shoes
• The Body Shop
• Trumount Cosmeceuticals
• V-design
• Verushka

Children across India will soon be learning kindness to animals as part of their school curriculum. Following meetings with PETA India, Dr Shashi Tharoor, Minister of State for Human Resource Development, has urged the National Council of Educational Research and Training to examine incorporating our humane-education programme, Compassionate Citizen, in its textbooks, while Vineet Joshi, Chair of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), has issued a notification to CBSE schools to use Compassionate Citizen as part of the official school curricula.

The notification, issued to more than 10,000 CBSE-affiliated schools around the country, explains how the programme can be easily included in the school curricula via the languages, science, social studies, environmental and values education subjects. Compassionate Citizen is also perfect for use in eco and animal rights clubs in schools.

Compassionate Citizen has been successfully used in nearly 15,000 private and government schools, reaching 3 million children between the ages of 8 and 12 years, and with the board's help, even more children will learn how to respect animals and peacefully coexist with them.

Most children have a natural affection for animals, but they become desensitised to cruelty and learn to accept "the way things are". Receiving humane education early on can help children retain the compassion that they feel for animals and turn it into action.

And there's more good news: Dr RM Kharb, Chair of the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI), has shown his support by writing to Gerry Arathoon, Chair of the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations, asking for the inclusion of PETA's school programme in their official school curricula.

Compassionate Citizen resource material can be downloaded from the CBSE and AWBI websites. A full copy of the Compassionate Citizen pack with a video can be ordered for free by sending a request to PujaM@petaindia.org.

He pushed for enforcement of the ban on jallikattu and spoke out against Mumbai’s “dancing” monkeys. Now, John Abraham is urging the Ministry of Environment and Forests to help animals who are abused in India’s circuses. As a Bollywood actor, producer, and model, John chooses to perform – but the longtime PETA India supporter is quick to point out that animals who are held captive and used for human entertainment do not. 

John is appealing to Jayanthi Natarajan, the Union Minister of State for Environment and Forests, and is asking her to ban animal acts in circuses. And he didn’t mince words in describing the abuse that the animals suffer: “Unlike human performers, animals are forced to entertain through the use of fear, pain or hunger. Whips, clubs, hooks and other weapons are often used to inflict pain on elephants and other animals in order to force them to perform confusing tricks. Dogs are crammed into dirty cages, horses are kept tethered by short ropes, elephants are chained by their legs and regularly beaten in order to keep them docile, and birds' wings are clipped, denying them flight. When the show is over, the animals are forced back into their cages or are shackled or tied, loaded onto lorries and taken to the next town. They never get a break from this endless cycle of abuse.”

It is already illegal for circuses to use bears, monkeys, tigers, panthers, lions, and bulls in their acts. But as John points out, “no animal – no matter the species – wants to be chained, caged, hit or psychologically abused.”

Join John in speaking out against the cruelty of the circus by writing a letter to the editor of your newspaper, organizing a demonstration when the circus is in your area, and requesting that local officials cancel performances. Also, send an e-mail to the Ministry now.

After receiving inquiries from PETA India and People For Animals (PFA), the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI), a statutory body operating under the Ministry of Environment and Forests, sent an advisory to Kherwadi Police Station in Mumbai instructing the police to stop a three-day exotic-"pet" show featuring birds and other animals – organized by Babloo Aziz, a former Congress corporator, and scheduled to begin on 19 April – from taking place.

In the advisory, AWBI Vice Chair S Chinny Krishna wrote, "[P]lease note that prior permission of the Animal Welfare Board of India … is required for holding such an exhibition/show. The Animal Welfare Board of India has neither been approached for this permission which is mandatory under the Performing Animals Rules under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 59 of 1960, nor have we given any sort of permission to hold this show. May we request you to please see that this show is not allowed to be held".

On 16 April 2013, the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Zone 8, Mr Namdeo Chavan, called Aziz and confirmed that the show will not be held. PETA, PFA and Bombay SPCA officials also met with the DCP.

Bollywood celebrities Emraan Hashmi and Neha Dhupia, whose names appeared in the media as supporters of the event, have confirmed to PETA that they did not support it and were not even aware of it. Dhupia even took to Twitter and re-tweeted PETA's message confirming that she is not attending the show. Mahima Choudhry's and Sunil Shetty's names appeared on a billboard promoting the event, but when contacted by PETA, Choudhry was baffled because she did not even know of the event, and Shetty's office confirmed that he has already communicated to the concerned party that he cannot attend the event so long as adequate permissions are not in place.

You can help animals! Never patronise places that encourage the buying and selling of animals and take this pledge to adopt, not buy, an animal if you have the time, resources and commitment to give a dog or cat a loving home: http://action.petaindia.com/ea-campaign/clientcampaign.do?ea.client.id=111&ea.campaign.id=6332.

Gudi Padwa is a festive, joyful holiday that marks the beginning of a new year. It's the perfect time to try new things—like delicious vegan versions of traditional Gudi Padwa treats. We guarantee that everyone will love these ghee- and guilt-free recipes!

Yummy Yoghurt-Free Mango Shrikhand

1 cup raw unsalted cashews

2 Tbsp water

2 cups mango pulp

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 tsp cardamom powder

1/2 cup dried fruit, chopped

• Grind the cashews into a smooth paste. Slowly add the water and continue grinding until a thick, creamy consistency is obtained (add more water if needed).
• Keep covered in a warm place to ferment until the paste has a pleasant sour smell and small bubbles are visible, about 10 to 15 hours.
• Mix the paste, then drain the excess water with a muslin cloth.
• Strain the mango pulp with a muslin cloth to remove most of the liquid.
• Add the mango pulp and the sugar to the cashew paste and mix well.
• Add the cardamom powder and refrigerate for 4 to 5 hours.
• Serve chilled and topped with dried fruit.  

Makes 2 servings

Tasty Ghee-Free Tilgul Poli  

Adapted from http://momrecipies.blogspot.in/2011/01/tilgul-poli-sankranti-special-gul-poli.html

1/2 cup white flour (maida)

1/2 cup whole-wheat flour (atta)

4 Tbsp chickpea flour (besan)

Salt, to taste

2 Tbsp oil, plus more for cooking

Water, for the dough

2 Tbsp sesame seeds

2 Tbsp poppy seeds

1 Tbsp grated coconut

1/2 cup grated jaggery

Pinch nutmeg powder (optional)

• Mix the white flour, whole-wheat flour and 2 tablespoonfuls of the chickpea flour together. Add salt to taste.
• Heat 2 tablespoonfuls of the oil until sizzling hot. Create a well in the middle of the flour and add the oil. Mix well.
• Slowly add water and stir until a medium-soft dough is formed. Knead well for 5 minutes. Cover with plastic wrap and let sit for at least 1 hour.
• Heat more oil in a pan. Roast the remaining chickpea flour, stirring continuously and adding olive oil as required, until the flour changes colour, about 6 to7 minutes. Let cool completely.
• Individually roast the sesame seeds, poppy seeds and coconut, then separately grind each into a powder.
• Combine the sesame seed powder, poppy seed powder, coconut powder, roasted chickpea flour and jaggery in a mixer and blend. Add the nutmeg powder and mix well. Roll into 7 to 8 balls. 
• Divide the dough into equal portions. Sprinkle some all-purpose flour on a rolling board. Roll each portion of dough into a puri-sized round. Place a ball of filling in the centre of each round of dough. Fold the dough over the top of the ball and seal the edges. Using more flour, roll the filled dough into the shape of a roti (7 to 8 inches in diameter).
• Heat the griddle (tawa) and add oil. Roast both sides of each poli on medium heat until golden. 
• Serve hot.

Makes 4 servings

See how simple it is to cut dairy products out of your favourite recipes? Not only is ditching dairy easy, it's also one of the best things that you can do for yourself and cows. After all, dairy consumption contributes to the onset of diabetes, obesity and respiratory problems, and the cruel dairy industry causes the suffering and death of millions of cows and buffaloes each year. So cows about taking the pledge to go vegan today?!