Govt advisory body for complete ban on animals in circuses

A government advisory body has pitched for a complete ban on animals in circuses and suitable changes in legislation, saying the existing regulations are "unworkable" and ineffective in ending the "institutionalised cruelty" to animals.

The chairman of the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI), has written to the Ministry of Environment recommending a ban, while observing that as many as 11 circuses are performing in the country without mandatory permission.

"It is the AWBI's considered opinion that the time has come for the government to bring an end to the use of animals in circuses and to make suitable changes in legislation that prevents the use of animals in circus entertainment," AWBI chairman M Ravikumar has written.

The letter dated, June 6, mentioned that as per available records, around two hundred animals and birds are performing in circuses presently. There has been no response from the ministry to his communication as of now, Ravikumar told

(This article has not been edited by DNA's editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)