LUCKNOW, NOV 8: The famous Empire Circus is likely to be punished under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act for employing a sick tigress for a show. A four-year-old tigress of the circus company was found dead on Tuesday. On Wednesday, the circus shifted to Allahabad from here.On receiving the information about the death, Chief Wildlife Warden of UttarPradesh Dr R.L.Singh asked the Empire Circus Manager, K.J. Menon, to send the dead animal to the Lucknow zoo hospital for postmortem. The two zoo vetsDr Utkarsh Shukla and Ashok Kashyap, who performed the postmortem, soon put the animal's body into the incinerator. Dr Shukla then took the sample of theorgans to the Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Bareilly for further examination.The zoo director, Paramjit Singh, said the animal was not only sufferingfrom tuberculosis but also paralysis that had affected its movement. Itsliver was completely damaged.The Chief Wildlife Warden said he would decide the punitive action aftergetting the report from the Bareilly institute. If found guilty, the circusmanagement would be served a notice for explanation, Singh said addinghe would order the medical examination of 15 more tigers, seven elephants, abear and many other animals by a team of doctors.Dr Singh said since the circus had got the possession certificate from theChief Wildlife Warden of West Bengal, action could not be taken forpossessing the animals. But for employing a sick tigress, even its licencecan be cancelled, Dr Singh said.Under Section 11 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, if anyperson ``employs in any work or labour or for any purpose any animal whichby reason of any disease, infirmity, wound, sore or other cause, is unfit tobe so employed or, being the owner, permits any such animal to be soemployed'' can be punished.Under the Act, the person who keeps or confines any animal in any cagewhich does not measure sufficiently in height, length and breadth to permitthe animal a reasonable opportunity for movement can be punished.Reportedly, hardly any cage in the circus is according to the specifications.In May 1998, the Delhi High Court had directed all private mobile zoosin the country to surrender animals in their possession to the ChiefWildlife Warden of their respective states. Many mobile zoos abided by thecourt order but circus companies moved the apex court for a stay and gotit.
