As any pet lover would attest, animals show deep sensitivity and natural, god-given instincts which we have long forgotten (“Looking beyond our own species”, Feb.11). A recent article in The Guardian says: “You and the elephant both have minds made from the same stuff... The same ancient hormones bring about pleasure, anger and stress.” This is true with other animals, in varying degrees. That they cannot speak our language (or use an interpreter!) does not make them any less sentient.
One is poignantly reminded of the death of wildlife explorer and conservationist Lawrence Anthony when two herds of wild elephants he had rescued came to his home in a game park in South Africa after he passed away. He had earlier so tellingly observed in his book that there is more to life than “just yourself, your own family and your own kind”. One also finds the slaughter of animals for meat to be the rear end to the noble concept of animal welfare and actually nixes the latter.
The issues need to viewed separately. The present-day gory methods of slaughter — repugnant to many — could be replaced with modern, less painful techniques such as stunning. Any legislation on animal rights will be effective only when the collective thinking that goes into it is sound and sensible.
V. Nagarajan,
Chennai
