Ban Animals From Circuses
Even though regulations prohibit animal performances unless the exhibitor registers with the Animal Welfare Board of India, many circuses blatantly disregard the rules. And since no government agency monitors or regulates training sessions, animals are often beaten, whipped, chained and kept in cramped cages behind the scenes.
In May 2001, the Supreme Court of India upheld a 1998 central government notification banning circus owners from training or exhibiting bears, monkeys, tigers, panthers and lions. In spite of this ban, some of these species continue to be trained and made to perform for entertainment. If you see any of these species being forced to perform, contact your local law enforcement agency and insist that they intervene.
To force animals to perform confusing acts, trainers use whips, chains, electric prods and bullhooks (ankuses). In their real homes, these animals would be free to raise their families, forage for food and play together. Instead, the circus forces them to perform night after night, for 48 to 50 weeks every year. Between acts, elephants are kept chained, and other animals are "stored" in small cages.
You Can Help
Please add your voice to PETA's by asking the Ministry of Environment & Forests to ban animals from being forced to perform in circuses.
