Out of bondage
SUMIT BHATTACHARJEE
|
It is time to set caged animals free.
|
PHOTO: C.V. SUBRAHMANYAM
SILENT CAPTIVES: Animals behind bars
Keeping pets has been a passion for ages. Roman empress Cleopatra maintained a few African leopards in her private chamber. The erstwhile zamindars and kings of India had the habit of keeping exotic birds and animals in their farmhouses. It was said that the more exotic the animals, the higher the status.
Though various national and international laws have curbed this hobby or passion to a great extent, it still continues in some form or the other.
Of late, a noted three-star hotel and a hypermarket have introduced an animal corner on their premises. While the hotel has kept them for attraction (whom do they attract?), at the supermarket they are for sale.
The range of animals varies from exotic lovebirds to cockatiel and from pigeons to puppies and rabbits. "Most of the species stocked are either under the exotic category and hence they do not come under the Indian Wildlife Act (IWA) or are under schedule III of the IWA that gives the leverage of being `not so threatened species'. The question here is not whether they are endangered or not but how they are kept," points out Pradip Nath, founder of the Visakha Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (VSPCA).
Threat of fumes
The birds are kept in cages measuring 2 x 2 feet, leaving very little space to expand their wings. Moreover, they are exposed to vehicle fumes and other pollutants throughout the day. They look drowsy and sick. People who had bought the birds complain that they died within a few days.
The founder of VSPCA opines that confinement of birds and rabbits to small cages lead to a lot of problems. "Primarily they are sensitive to fumes and pollutants and confinement to small cages develops problems like heart disease, indigestion and arthritis. Displaying them may not come directly under the Wildlife Act but the authorities can always prevail basing on the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act," says he.
Conservator of Forests B. Trinadha Rao is also of the same opinion.
"A few companies have the licence to rear exotic birds that are imported from other countries. In such cases they cannot be legally held for sale or exhibition while rabbits and puppies are not listed under the wildlife provisions. They can be held only if the animals fall under threatened species. But the prevention of cruelty angle can always be explored," says he.
Printer friendly
page
Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
Young World
