In NGO-circuses battle, animals face the brunt

Circuses around the country have been on the radar of the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) and animal rights NGOs for the last several years. While some circuses do get caught breaking the law, many allege that they get harassed by the NGOs under the name of “animal cruelty”. Is confiscation of circus animals the only solution to all the problems? Newsline reports.

Past perfect?

As per the rules, the wild animals rescued from the circuses got rehabilitated at the rescue centres established by CZA in the off display area of the various zoos recognised by CZA. The rescue centres are Arignar Anna Zoological Park, Chennai (Tamil Nadu); Indira Gandhi Zoological Park, Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh); Sri Venkateshwara Zoological Garden (Tirupathi, Andhra Pradesh); Bannerghatta National Park, Bangalore (Karnataka); Nahargarh Biological Park (Jaipur, Rajasthan); Van Vihar (Bhopal); and South Khairbari (West Bengal).

According to the CZA website, at Bannerghatta Rescue Centre, in 2003-2004, there were 100 hybrid lions, the figure came down to 26 in 2014-2015. At Nahargadh rescue centre, the figure came came down from 32 hybrid lions in 2006-2007 to 15 in 2012-2013. At Arignar Anna Zoological Park, 13 Bengal tigers have died between 1995 to 2015 and six hybrid lions were reported dead at Indira Gandhi Zoological Park between 1995 to 2007. At Vandalur Zoo, the count of hybrid lion was 55 in 2004-2005; the figure was recorded 35 in the year 2013-2014.

In 2005, as the Nodal Inspecting Authority of MoEF and Chairman of People for Animals, Haryana, Naresh Kadyan had rescued 29 lions and a bear from Russian Komal Circus from Palval, Haryana. “The animals were given to the Delhi Zoo by us, which were later given to the Bannerghatta National Park near Bengaluru. In 2013, when I visited Bannerghatta again and inquired about the 29 lions, I discovered most of them died. Likewise, out of the 50 lions rescued by us around the same time that were shifted to Nahargarh Biological Park, at least eight survived. The zoo staff is not equipped to take care of circus animals. Besides, the circus animals get so used to human touch that once they are left in the wild or in the zoo, they feel lonely and die a premature death. The circus staff takes good care of them because their livelihood depends on them. On the other hand, for the zoo staff, it is just a 9 to 5 job. A zoo worker’s salary will come irrespective whether the animal survives or not,” said Kadyan, who is also the master trainer, AWBI.

Dwindling numbers

There are at least 53 circuses in the country, out of which 32 are registered with the AWBI. Some of the circuses have been de-registered by AWBI after they were found violating PCA Act 1960.

Riyazuddin Khan, who runs five circuses in different cities, alleges that the local NGOs do not take any action as long as the circus is paying them some amount regularly. Three months ago, a private NGO confiscated his 15 dogs and three horses. “They were going to take my elephant also but we told them that we will keep it as a private elephant and won’t make him perform. These NGOs take our animals and then seek donations from international NGOs by representing ‘sorry’ state of the rescued animals. The way we take care of our animals is something that nobody can do. With this kind of treatment meted out to us, I don’t think the circus as an art and profession won’t last more than five years. Many have already closed down,” says Khan.

Sharly Kaur of 119-year-old Jamuna Circus, says, “Since March, when our animals were confiscated, we have been running losses. In the past 10 years, a number of circuses have closed down and many have been forced to do so because of the harassment from the animal NGOs. Not every circus can fight a court case. Throughout the country, there are thousands of slaughter houses where lakhs of animals like goat, cow and bulls are killed every single day. If these NGOs really love animals, why don’t they go and save them?”

Kaur further alleges, “The modus operandi of the NGOs is — confiscate the animals like hooligans, leave the circus to fight the court battle, upload photographs of the animals on the website with a fictional story that suggest how they were ‘tortured by the circus’ and seek donation from international community, by the time the court’s verdict is out, the NGOs earn well. If the court gives judgment in circus’ favour then they return the animal or else they continue minting money.”

The way out

“After the ban of wild animals in circus came in force in 1998, I worked relentlessly towards rescuing wild animals for several years. Later on, I discovered that hardly 10 per cent survived. Besides, unnecessary pain and stress is caused to them. Thus, now I feel that circus animals should be left with circus owners. Of course, there should be stringent laws that should be mandatory for the circuses to follow. Besides, they should also be trained to take necessary measures for good care of animals,” says Kadyan, stressing that animal NGOs should be kept away from circuses as their sole motive is to earn money through foreign donations on the names of rescued animals, especially elephants and bears. On an average, a circus employs at least 150-200 people. “The earnings of all the circuses have been constantly falling down each year. If this profession sees a closure, what will happen to thousands of people attached with the art, who will rehabilitate them? The animal NGOs?” asks Khan. Offering a suggestion, Kadyan states that the circuses should be asked to install CCTV cameras that can be monitored by AWBI. If a circus is found to be violating the rules, action should be taken. “A number of circuses are ready to do so — Asiad Circus, Rambo Circus, Rajmahal Circus, Great Gemini, Great Apollo and Raymond Circus,” he said.