Ringling Bros closure; our circuses must take heed

I have been active in campaigning for the rights of circus animals since 2003, and have never ceased to be shocked by what they put some of these circus animals through. Once, in a circus in Chennai, I had encountered a chimpanzee named Lakshmi. She had fallen while riding a bicycle on a high tightrope, and had been paralysed, neck down. She was in terrible shape, unclean and with bedsores. Her cousin Shiva, was fed alcohol to keep him calm at night, which burnt his lungs. They are now all safe in the Mysuru zoo. A ban implemented in 2002 disallowed tigers, bears, lions, monkeys and panthers in circuses. Some of them are even hidden across the country — we uncovered lions in the coffee estates of Kerala. This is divergent behaviour. Indians are becoming more aware about how cruel and wrong this is, and I look forward to a positive future in this regard.The government is taking up initiatives, there is better monitoring and the rise of social media vigilantes: people are stepping up.

—Anthony Rubin, Animal activist, co-opted member, Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI)

The use of wild animals in circuses have been banned. While there are various restrictions, it is a well known fact that cruelty is inherent. When the AWBI registered circuses, it was made mandatory that the acts they perform is similar to their natural behaviour. This is clearly not the case. Animals are prodded, punished and induced with fear to perform. The housing conditions are terrible too — they are bascially mobile zoos, where the animals are tied to cages, not walked and often develop joint pains, especially the horses and camels. There have been several suspension orders and court cases and 21 circuses have been deregulated, and their registrations revoked by the Central Zoo Authority. Now they can’t even keep elphants, let alone abuse them. The inspections, which PETA were part of, have been on for five years now. There is action, but it is not fast enough to prevent unnecessary suffering. We need a stronger stand by the Central government, because under Section 22 of the PCA, they have the power to prohibit animals from performing at these circuses altogether. There is enough proof.

—Dr Manilal Valliyate, Director, Veterinary affairs, People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), India

We are fortunate that thanks to the ‘Seize the Day’, of the Central Zoo Authority the registration of many circuses in this country have been cancelled. Laws also made the existence of many circuses illegal. It is now the responsibility of these bodies to send the animals over to sanctuaries, and there are enough organisations who would like to take them in. It also helps that awareness in this country has risen tremendously. When I was a kid, the circus was a part of our lives and growing up experience. Ask the youth today — many of them will tell you that they would never visit a circus on ethical grounds. We have good laws, but the implementation leaves much to be desired. If appropriate agencies do not implement laws as they are supposed to, due to either corruption or laziness they need to be taken to task.

—Chinni Krishnan, Vice Chairman, Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI)