Children Join ‘Elephants’, ‘Horses’, and Others Call For a Ban on Animals in Circuses

Posted on by PETA

Accompanied by people dressed as animals (such as an elephant, a dog, and a horse), parents, children, and others – supporters of PETA India and the Federation of Indian Animal Protection Organisations (FIAPO), of which PETA India is a member – wore animal masks at a demonstration in Delhi recently and requested that the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) pass draft rules that would ban the use of animals in circuses. These rules propose adding the following language to the Performing Animals (Registration) Rules, 2001, framed under The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960: a “prohibition on exhibiting and training of animals for specified performances. No animals shall be used for any performances or exhibition at any circus or mobile entertainment facility”.

The MoEFCC is seeking comments on these draft rules by 27 December 2018.

Since , because of the efforts of PETA India, FIAPO, and other animal-protection groups, more than 100 animals – including 15 captive elephants and many horses, camels, dogs, and birds – have been rescued and rehabilitated with the help of the police and forest departments and taken to sanctuaries, including those supported by PETA India.

In its efforts to end the use of animals in circuses, PETA India has petitioned the MoEFCC, worked with government regulatory bodies such as the Animal Welfare Board of India and the Central Zoo Authority, engaged in litigation, organised demonstrations and social media campaigns, elicited help from celebrities, and held street-theatre performances.

In 2013, a nine-month government-authorised inspection of 16 circuses across India – as well as other inspections by expert teams from 2013 to 2016 – revealed rampant and widespread abuse of elephants, horses, camels, dogs, birds, and other animals used in circuses. Handlers beat elephants with ankuses (weapons with a sharp metal hook on one end); drunken circus staff members roughly handled animals; circuses kept elephants, dogs, cats, birds, and other animals continuously chained or caged; animals exhibited signs of severe psychological distress, including constant swaying and self-mutilation; and animals were deprived of veterinary care, adequate food, sufficient water, and safe and clean shelter.

Animals performing in circuses endure a lifetime of misery. Say no to cruel animal circuses:

ACT NOW!