30 Wildlife and Cattle Protection Organisations and Veterinarians Petition Karnataka Government to Cancel Disruptive Kambala Event at Pilikula Biological Park

For Immediate Release:

01 March 2025

Contact:

Mangaluru – A coalition of animal protection organisations, including those focused on wildlife and cattle protection, along with over a dozen veterinarians, has issued a joint appeal to Dr. Ekroop Caur, Secretary to the Government, Department of Electronics, Information Technology, Biotechnology, and Science & Technology, Karnataka with copy to Mr. Subhash K. Malkhede, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) & Chief Wildlife Warden, Karnataka. The appeal protests the plan by the Pilikula Development Authority (PDA) to stage a large-scale raucous Kambala (buffalo race) mela inside the Pilikula Biological Park premises and near the animals’ enclosures. The organisations are People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India, Animal Rahat, People for Cattle in India (PFCI), World Veterinary Service (WVS), India Project for Animals and Nature (IPAN), Compassion Unlimited Plus Action (CUPA), Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre (WRRC), Human & Environment Alliance League (HEAL), Earthlings Trust, Fauna Police, Sacred Earth Trust, Give Me Trees Trust, Umeed Foundation and Federation of Indian Animal Protection Organisations (FIAPO)—the latter of which is a federation of more than 200 animal protection organisations across India. Sixteen veterinarians have also signed the appeal.

The copy of the joint petition is available upon request.

“Animal organisations, veterinarians and wildlife experts are deeply concerned about the well-being of the wildlife at the zoo and buffaloes who will be forced to race, and they are unequivocally demanding that the disruptive Kambala event at Pilikula Biological Park be cancelled,” says PETA India Advocacy Associate Tushar Kol. “The anticipated excessive noise, large crowds, and the potential introduction of external animals are proven stressors that can lead to irreversible health issues and behavioural disturbances in captive wildlife and buffaloes suffer during Kambala events.”

The appeal highlights that the planned event is expected to attract thousands of spectators, generating high noise levels and disturbances that could trigger severe stress responses in the park’s animal residents. Research indicates that such disturbances can result in hearing loss, panic, increased heart rate, and disruptions in critical behaviours—including breeding—thus placing the animals at risk of long-term health complications.

Investigations by PETA India have documented that buffaloes used in Kambala events are subjected to inhumane treatment. These animals are tethered without adequate food or water, beaten with sticks, and forcibly restrained with painful nose ropes, resulting in distress and fear. Buffaloes are physically ill-suited to racing because, among other reasons, they lack the sweat glands needed to deal with the heat exertion the races inevitably cause in these animals. To control buffaloes and force them to run, handlers use cruel methods, such as violently pulling and yanking on nose ropes, striking and slapping buffaloes with their hands, shouting at them, and continuously hitting the animals with wooden sticks to incite them before the races as well as hitting them during the races and inflicting bloody wounds.

The organisations and veterinarians urge the state government to take immediate action to prevent the disruptive Kambala event at Pilikula Biological Park, ensuring the safety, health, and dignity of the resident wildlife and buffaloes.

PETA India – whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to use for entertainment” – has long campaigned against the use of bulls in performances. For more information, please visit PETAIndia.com or follow the group on X, Facebook, or Instagram.

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