Four elephants and three horses were rescued on Friday from the Rambo Circus in Pune in a joint action by the city police and a number of NGOs. A mule and 14 dogs were also rescued, said police.
The rescue was the culmination of a 48-hour operation by a rescue team from Wildlife SOS Rapid Response Unit in collaboration with the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), the Pune police and Maharashtra Forest Department. Authorities alleged that the elephants had been kept in deplorable conditions for the last two years, were manacled and ill-treated treated.
The four elephants are to be shifted to the Wildlife SOS Elephant Care Centre in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh.
There they will receive veterinary care, a healthy diet and rest, said Wildlife SOS spokespersons, adding that the convoy transporting the elephants would briefly break journey at a transit facility in the outskirts of Pune to let the animals recuperate and prepare for the second leg of their journey.
Spiked chains
“It was shocking to witness the inhumane conditions in which the elephants were kept in, shackled by spiked chains and denied any chance at a natural life. The elephants in this circus were a priority [for the rescuers] as they were in terrible distress,” said Geeta Seshamani, co-founder, Wildlife SOS.
Of the four rescued elephants, Goldie and Sylvie are mother and daughter, with the latter having been born into circus life. The other two are Pearl and Ruby.
“While in the circus, the elephants were restrained by both front and back legs even they weren’t performing. They were given no opportunity to exercise and no access to fresh water which is mandatory under the law,” said Rhea Lopez, Elephant Campaign Manager, Wildlife SOS.
The Wildlife SOS team started a social media campaign on Facebook and Twitter called the ‘Precious Four’, hours after the elephants were rescued. The campaign gives animal lovers hourly updates about the present condition of the rescued animals.
Management protests
Protesting against the police action, the organisers of the circus claimed they had permission to perform till August this year.
“We protest against this action by police and NGOs despite having produced health certificates of animals and the requisite permission papers for the circus. This kind of action can only be taken if the High Court issues such a directive,” said John Matthew, organizer, Rambo Circus.
