Sunday, November 6, 2011
NGOs move court against Jumbo circus - Sukanya Kadyan
PANIPAT: Trouble for owners of Jumbo Circus, who had been hogging limelight for all the wrong reasons, is far from over as the court of CJM has admitted a petition against them by representatives of International Organisation for Animal Protection (OPIA), an NGO associated with UN department of information, and Haryana People for Animals, for cruelty against animals.
The Indian representative of the NGO, Naresh Kadyan, who moved the court on Saturday, said that the animals being used for performance purposes by the circus were being kept in pathetic conditions, without proper food and shelter and were even denied medical care as a full time veterinarian, mandatory under the performance rules, had not been appointed by the circus.
The petition stated that owners of the circus transported the animals from Rajasthan to Panipat via Rohtak without proper documentation and certificates of fitness as required by Transport of Animals Rules 2001 under Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PCA) Act, 1960 and the Cattle Transport Rules of 1978, as amended in 2001.
The petitioners also accused the circus owners of using some exotic species of animals and birds that were covered under the Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species ( CITES).
As per official documents, (copies of which are in possession of TOI), the circus had registered eight elephants, 13 Horses, 36 dogs, one hippo, 15 parrots, three camels, one pelican, two donkeys, one goat, two turkeys, eight Persian cats and one emu with the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI). However, Kadyan said that all these animals were not with the circus which was again a violation of the rules.
The court of CJM, after listening to the petitioner's counsel, admitted the petition and fixed November 8 as the next date of hearing.
Meanwhile, AWBI has already constituted a two-member panel to inspect the animals being used by Jumbo Circus, following allegation that the animals at the circus were being subjected to cruelty and a blind hippo was being used during performances. The Haryana chief wildlife warden had also denied permission to the circus to hold shows in Panipat unless it discontinued the use of blind Hippo, named Raja, for performance.
Use of Blind Hippo
NGOs move court for action against circus owners In his petition, Kadyan maintained some of the exotic species that were covered under the Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) were also being used by the circus in violation of the norms.
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
BOYCOTT JUMBO CIRCUS : CONFISCATE ABUSED HIPPO, DOCKED TAIL DOGS, FEATHER CHOPPED BIRDS - Sukanya Kadyan
Tribune Impact
Blind hippo case
Animal Welfare Board to inspect circus
Manish Sirhindi
Tribune News Service
Panipat, October 25
Following reports of a blind hippo being used by Jumbo Circus published in these columns and complaints filed by animal activist Naresh Kadyan, the Animal Welfare Board of India has constituted a panel to inspect the hippo and the conditions under which other animals are kept by the circus staff.
In a formal communiqué sent to Panipat deputy commissioner JS Ahlawat, the board stated that a special team, comprising Dr LR Raheja, deputy director, Animal Husbandry Department, and Kulvir Singh, co-opted member of the board and forest department, had been constituted to inspect the animal and the conditions under which the animals were kept at the Jumbo Circus, presently running shows at the local sectors 13-17.
The board said it had received a complaint in which it was alleged that animals sheltered in Jumbo Circus were being used to perform without any registration with of the board.
It was learnt that the circus had got registered eight elephants, 13 horses, 13 dogs, one hippo, 15 parrots, three camels and one pelican as on May 13, 2004. The circus added two donkeys, one goat, two turkey, 13 dogs, eight Persian cats and one Emu which were registered with the board on September 7, 2009.
The animal activist, in his complaint, had stated that the animals were not provided proper shelter, food and medical treatment.
Vinod Kumar, assistant sectary, AWBI, said if these allegations were proved, it would be a violation of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 and the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 and other animal laws and would call for a legal action.
Besides, the board also asked the deputy commissioner to ensure that the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) was asked to perform its duties and take immediate steps to make certain that there was no violation of the PCA Act 1960.