UNIT 15 PERFORMING ANIMALS Performing Animals

Structure 15.1 Learning Outcomes 15.2 Introduction 15.2.1 Meaning of Performing Animals 15.3 Entertainment Animals 15.3.1 History 15.3.2 Types of Entertainment Animals 15.3.2.1 Wild Exotic Animals 15.3.2.2 Domesticated Animals 15.3.3 Conservation - Does the End Justify the Means? 15.4 Animals Used in Fighting / Killing 15.5 Animals Used in Circuses 15.5.1 Dogs 15.5.2 Goats and Birds 15.5.3 Horses 15.5.4 Camels 15.5.5 Elephants 15.6 Animals Used in Races 15.6.1 Bull Races 15.6.2 Horse Races 15.7 Animals Used in Tourism 15.7.1 Elephant Rides 15.7.2 Horse Rides 15.7.3 Camel Rides 15.8 Animals Used in Sports 15.8.1 Cock Fights 15.8.2 Jallikattu 15.8.3 Kambala 15.9 Animals Used in Movies, Televisions and Live Shows 15.10 Let Us Sum Up 15.11 Keywords 15.12 Bibliography and Further Reading 15.13 Self Assessment Exercises 15.14 Answers / Hints to Check Your Progress 15.1 LEARNING OUTCOMES a) Knowledge and Understanding: After studying this Unit, you will be able to: Understand the meaning and concept of performing / entertainment animals. Classify performing animals based on the type of entertainment. 41 Welfare of Performing Animals b) Practical and Professional Skills: After studying this Unit, you will be able to: Describe different types of entertainment and general welfare issues associated with the performing animals. 15.2 INTRODUCTION

Dear Learner, In the previous two units, you were introduced to the concept and welfare issues in working animals (Horses / Ponies / Donkeys, Bullocks, Camels, and Elephants). Some of these working animals are also used as performing animals. In this unit let us discuss the concept of performing animals, different forms of entertainment and other roles of performing animals. 15.2.1 Meaning of Performing Animals

Performing animal means any animal which is used at, or for the purpose of any entertainment (Box 15.1). Performing animals are trained to perform unusual acts as an entertainment for humans. The practice could be subject to cruel procedure and the animal could be brutalized to perform painful movements.

Box 15.1: Performing Animals Performing animals means any animal which is used at, or for the purpose of any entertainment to which the public are admitted through sale of tickets - Rule 2 (b) of the Performing animals rules (1973). Performing animal means an animal which is used at or for the purpose of any entertainment including a film or an equine event to which the public are admitted - Rule 2(h) The Performing Animal (Registration) Rules (PARR), 2001.

Various forms of entertainment include use of animals in fighting, circuses, races, tourism, sports etc. The use of animals in entertainment creates serious issues both in terms of the welfare of the individual animal as well as species conservation in some cases. The entertainment industry covers an enormous range of uses of animals. In fact, this is probably the most diverse area of animal abuse. It is probably also the least ‘justifiable’ act. There are welfare problems in most cases, and the most extreme forms of ‘entertainment’ cause immense suffering and many animal deaths (Box 15.2).

Box 15.2: Welfare of Performing Animals In the previous units, we discussed animal welfare as the inseparable relationship between the physical (fitness), mental (feelings) and naturalness states (the ability to fulfill natural needs /desires). Accordingly each of the species of animals being used for entertainment has different welfare needs. Example 1: The elephants used in the circuses are poked using the bull hooks causing the injury on various body parts. Sometimes a hole in either ear flap can be observed along with wounds caused due to constant chaining of all four limbs, abscess on shoulder and hips due to lying down on the hard concrete floor. These elephants used in circuses and 42 rides develop the stereotypic behavior i.e. head swaying and bobbing. Performing Animals Example 2: In case of horses used for rides develop the saddle related wounds i.e. on the wither and spine, girth and belly, on limbs etc. They are also tethered constantly with short hobble on all the four limbs. Example 3: Bull fighting causes severe injury to either of the fighting pair and sometimes even the death of the animals too. Improvement in the welfare conditions of the performing animals could be achieved by ensuring welfare friendly animal husbandry practices. While handling animals for veterinary or any other procedures, adopting welfare friendly handling and restraining practices such as behavioral, physical and chemical methods are to be followed. We can also ensure the improvement in performing animals ‘ welfare through enforcement or implementation of animal protection laws such as, The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PCA) Act, 1960, Wildlife Protection Act (WPA), 1972, Performing Animals Rules, 1973 and the Performing Animals (Registration) Rules, 2001 etc. (Please refer the next Unit for discussion on welfare issues in performing animals. The animal protection laws are discussed in MAW-003).

15.3 ENTERTAINMENT ANIMALS

Entertainment animals are those that perform or are displayed publicly to amuse people in places like: Circuses Carnivals Animal shows, exhibits and fairs Amusement and wildlife theme parks Zoos, museums and aquariums Motion pictures and television programmes. Animals used in entertainment are broadly classified into following five broad categories: 1) Fighting / killing - e.g. bullfights 2) Circuses - e.g. dogs, birds, horses/ ponies, elephants, camels etc. 3) Races - e.g. bullock cart race, tonga race, dog races etc. 4) Tourism – e.g. elephants, horses and camel’s joy rides 5) Sports - e.g. jallikattu, kambala, elephant polo, horse polo, hunting, fishing etc. Although these venues are diverse, they all have one thing in common - use of animals for human purposes. Many of these purposes are purely recreational. Others combine recreation with educational goals, such as teaching the public about the conservation and preservation of endangered species. In either case, the animals are a source of income for their owners. 15.3.1 History

The use of animals for entertainment dates back to thousands of years. Even ancient civilizations were fascinated by exotic animals. Archaeological evidence 43 Welfare of Performing Animals shows that lions were kept in cages in Macedonia in 2000 BC. Egyptian, Chinese, Babylonian, Assyrian, and Roman rulers also collected wild animals, as did the Abbasid princes of Arabia. Ancient collections often included elephants, bears, giraffes, and big cats. Historians believe that wild animals were kept and shown off by rulers as a symbol of power and wealth.

Wild-animal performances were perfected in the travelling menageries, circuses, and sideshows of the 1800s. Most acts of the time focused on the ferocity of the animals and the bravery of the trainer. Lions were trained to roar and swat at the trainers, who fended them off with whips and chairs. These daring acts thrilled audiences, but the training methods used could be brutal. Trainers had to establish absolute dominance over their animals to prevent them from actually attacking (Fig.15.1). Animals were usually beaten, starved, and sometimes even had their teeth pulled to render them less dangerous.

Fig. 15.1: A female leopard trainer (Photo by Granger, 1906) (https://pixels.com/featured/circus-leopard-trainer-granger.html)

In the 19thcentury horses, dogs, and other domesticated animals performed in variety shows throughout Europe, United States and Asian sub-continent. Near the end of the century, animal acts were incorporated into a new form of Asian entertainment: circuses, joy rides, races, animal fights etc. 15.3.2 Types of Entertainment Animals Animal used for entertainment includes: a) Wild exotic animals b) Domesticated animals 15.3.2.1 Wild Exotic Animals

Wild exotic animals such as elephants, lions, and tigers are the most popular. They are objects of curiosity because people do not encounter them in their daily lives. The word exotic in this context means “foreign” or “not native” but also suggests an air of mystery and danger that is alluring to people, who will often pay to see exotic animals living in cages. 15.3.2.2 Domesticated Animals

By contrast, domestic animals must do something to make money, because most 44 people will not pay to see ordinary dogs and cats lying around. They might, however, pay to see them jump through fiery hoops or walk on their hind legs Performing Animals pushing baby carriages. They will pay even more to see wild animals do such things.

Performing animals must be trained or tamed to be entertainers, and many trainers use cruel and abusive methods. This unnatural basis of the exotic animal business is what makes it unacceptable to animal rights groups. They believe that wild animals should live in the wild, unaffected by human interference, and not be forced to do things that do not come naturally to them. Animal welfare issues include the pain and suffering that animals undergo at circuses, carnivals, and roadside zoos and parks. The animals at these venues frequently are treated poorly, living in deplorable conditions without access to veterinary care. 15.3.3 Conservation - Does the End Justify the Means?

The Animal rights advocates feel that even nonperforming captive wild animals live unnatural existences. They are either removed from their natural habitats or born into captivity. Some people argue that this is beneficial to the animals and the perpetuation of their species. The animals in the wild do face many dangers, including natural predators, starvation, hunters, and poachers. Their natural habitats in many parts of the world are shrinking as human development takes up more and more space. This is leading to man – animal conflict in many places.

Some exotic animals live longer in captivity than they would in the wild, and some species might die out completely if humans did not capture specimens of them to preserve. Large zoos often do this kind of work, and they may also take in exotic animals that have been surrendered by or rescued from smaller, less capable zoos and parks. However, even these large zoos are in the entertainment business, earning money by displaying captive animals to the public? Does the End Justify the Means? This is one of the fundamental questions in the debate over animals in entertainment.

Before we proceed, please complete activity 1. Activity 1 (Observation Study): Look around your city/town/village or visit a nearby zoo and enlist the performing animals along with what type of performance / entertainment they do? Also try to find out the welfare risks to animals involved in such work? Write your observations...... 45 Welfare of Performing Animals Check Your Progress 1 Note: a) Use the spaces given below for your answers. b) Check your answer with those given at the end of the unit. 1) Define the term performing animal...... 2) Name the various forms of entertainments where animals are used...... 3) Write the purpose of entertainment animals...... 4) Give examples for the following forms of entertainment: a) Animal Fighting / Killing : ...... b) Circuses ...... c) Races ...... d) Tourism ...... e) Sports ...... 46 Performing Animals 15.4 ANIMALS USED IN FIGHTING / KILLING

Many bulls are typically used in bullfighting events. In each round, two bulls are brought together and surrounded by a ring of spectators. The bulls’ horns are sharpened to ensure that every charge will cause bloody gashes and deep puncture wounds. The round ends when one of the bulls is either killed or manages to flee. The survivors of each round fight each other while spectators bet on the outcome. The “winner” is the last bull left alive – but by then, the bull’s injuries are often so severe that he is sent to slaughter (Box 15.3).

Box 15.3: Bullfighting - Cruel, Unusual and Illegal Bullfights are not only cruel to the animals which are being forced to fight; they also pose a great threat to public safety India has banned bullfights since 1960 under the PCA Act because of the discomfort and unnecessary pain and suffering to the animals. The bullfights are called with different names locally (for e.g. in Goa, they are known as ‘dhirio’ which was banned in 1998). Bulls are peaceful animals and only compete with each other over a mate. In bullfights, they face cruel exploitation for entertainment. In a typical bullfight, onlookers jeer on two bulls as they are forced into combat, often inflicting debilitating injuries upon each other (Fig.15.2). Some handlers even clamp the animals’ testicles to instigate them to fight. If bulls refuse to fight, concede or attempt to escape from the arena, the handlers as well as onlookers often provoke the opposing bull into chasing them down.

(Photo Credit: www.moneylife.in) (Photo credit: AFP/AFP/Getty Images)

Fig. 15.2: Bull fights for entertainment

Even the events preparing bulls for a fight are steeped in cruelty. As part of the training regimen, the bulls are made to run long distances with heavy weights around their necks, forced to stand in knee-deep water and confined for long periods with the intent to build endurance and aggression. Their horns are filed to a lance point to enable them to inflict deep wounds to their opponents. By the end of the duel(s), most of the bulls are mortally wounded and those are unfit for further fights are sold for illegal slaughter without even being examined by a veterinarian or being pronounced fit for consumption, as is the law.

(Source: Humane Society International (HSI) India; Huffpost Blog, 22/12/2015).

47 Welfare of Performing Animals 15.5 ANIMALS USED IN CIRCUSES

Animals in circuses lead a life of endless confinement, constant physical abuse and psychological torment. They are trained and compelled to perform under threat of beatings and whippings. Animals do not want to perform painful, confusing and demeaning tricks, but in circuses they have no choice. Trainers use abusive tools, including whips and electric prods, to force them to perform. Circuses portray a distorted view of animals. Animals do not naturally ride bicycles, stand on their heads or jump through rings of fire. Even the animals’ access to basic necessities, such as water, food and veterinary care, is often severely limited. 15.5.1 Dogs

Dogs in circuses are kept in horrendous conditions. Dogs are crammed into dirty cages and hardly ever let out. Dogs are usually forced to walk on their hind legs, forced to push a hollow cylinder around the ring, made to jump through three high metal obstacles, costumed with a miniature umbrella and a handbag forced to walk on his or her hind legs and are also forced to climb a metal slide and slide down, one after another (Fig. 15.3).

Fig. 15.3: Circus dogs

15.5.2 Goats and Birds Goats are also used in circuses. They are forced to climb on a stool and then made to walk on a metal string tied at around 4 to 5 feet from the ground. Birds are locked inside cramped cages, and their wings are clipped so that they cannot fly away. 15.5.3 Horses Horses are tethered on short ropes and this sometimes causes hobble injury on the lower part of the limb which is quite painful. During performances, the horses are whipped frequently on the legs and the spiked bits are used to control the horses (Fig.15.4).

Fig. 15.4: A pony is being whipped and camel is hit using the stick by trainers 48 15.5.4 Camels Performing Animals

Camels are tied with small neck rope making it difficult for them even to move their head up (Fig.15.5). Camels are used in circus for standing on a small podium and for this they are forced by use of a nylon rope whip for beating thing them or snapping the whip in the air to induce fear in them and long sticks for hitting them on the legs. Most of the camels in the circuses suffer from the skin infestation called mange and the camels are not provided appropriate treatment for such skin diseases and hence made to suffer.

Fig. 15.5: Camels in a circus being tied with short ropes without any shade

15.5.5 Elephants

Elephants are particularly difficult to keep in confinement because of their immense size. Many circus elephants are mistreated, malnourished, and sick with tuberculosis. A common tool for training elephants is called an ankus or bull hook, a long rod with a sharp hook on the end (Box 15.4 and Fig. 15.6).

Box 15.4: Elephant Hook / Ankus The ankus or elephant hook, is a very old aid in handling elephants by elephant keepers (mahouts). The modern elephant hooks do not look as terrible as in pictures, but the elephants are commanded still with rather fear-exciting hooks (Fig. 15.6).Critics charge that elephant trainers beat the animals with the rod and poke the hook into tender areas of the elephant’s hide behind its ears.

Fig. 15.6: Ankus/elephant hook (Source: iStock.com/DenBoma & Facebook@Fight for Elephants) Elephants are tied by three legs using the chains and regularly beaten to keep them docile (Fig.15.7). Animals are sometimes abandoned when the circus no longer can afford to keep them. 49 Welfare of Performing Animals

Fig. 15.7: Elephants made to stand and sit on a small stool in circus

In 1998, the Government of India (GOI) issued a notification under Section 22 (ii) of the PCA Act, 1960 that bears, monkeys, tigers, panthers, and lions shall not be exhibited or trained as performing animals. The Supreme Court of India upheld this notification through a judgment in 2001. In 2016, the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) – the prescribed authority under the Performing Animals (Registration) Rules (PARR), 2001 – through an advisory issued to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), recommended to issue a central notification conferring exercise of powers to it according to PCA Act, 1960, to ban the training, exhibition, and use of elephants for performances in India. Elephants, though protected under The Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, are excluded from the ban imposed by the GOI in 1998 which prohibits the use of various wild species from being used for performances. This recommendation was based on a study report submitted by the members and co-opted members of the board.

15.6 ANIMALS USED IN RACES

15.6.1 Bull Races

During races, bulls / bullocks are often beaten mercilessly with wooden sticks that are spiked with nails in order to get them to run faster in the sweltering heat and that painful twisting and biting of their tails is common. Such events are also a threat to public safety. The Animal owners even administer electric shocks to animals with a live wire attached to a potable battery and twist, break and chew their tails to force them to run. Such races are more common in Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra and Karnataka (Fig. 15.8).

Fig. 15.8: Bullock cart races [Source: Outlook photos (left) and PETA (Right)]

These races were already banned by Supreme Court of India in May 2014.The Supreme Court had ruled that cruelty is inherent in these events, as bulls are not anatomically suited for such activities. Making them participate subjects them to unnecessary pain and suffering, so such events were outlawed. The court also 50 stated that when culture and tradition are at variance with the law enacted by Performing Animals Parliament, the law would take precedence. 15.6.2 Horse Races

Behind the romanticized façade of Thoroughbred horse racing is a world of injuries, drug abuse and gruesome breakdowns. While spectators show off their fancy outfits and sip mint juleps, horses are running for their lives. Horses used for racing are forced to sprint - often under the threat of whips and even illegal electric-shocking devices - at speeds so fast that they frequently sustain injuries and even haemorrhage from the lungs (Fig. 15.9).

Fig.15.9: Horse race (Source: The Hindu, March 30, 2020)

The Rajasthan High Court banned tonga (two-wheeled horse carriages) races in the state of Rajasthan following a study report submitted by the AWBI. The court further directed the state of Rajasthan to take appropriate steps to ensure that the persons in charge take reasonable measures to protect the well-being of animals and to adhere to the PCA Act.

15.7 ANIMALS USED IN TOURISM

15.7.1 Elephant Rides

So-called “joyrides” are miserable and painful for the elephants that are forced to give them (Box 15.5 and Fig. 15.10). The AWBI authorized inspection of elephants used for rides in Jaipur revealed that animals endure constant physical and emotional abuse. When they are just around 2 years old, baby elephants are torn away from the tender care of their mothers and are either tied up between trees with heavy chains and ropes – which cause painful burns – or confined to a tiny wooden enclosure called a kraal. In a process that often lasts for months, trainers beat the young elephants with sticks and jab them with sharp, hooked ankus until they lose all hope and begin to obey commands. These metal weapons are also used to pierce their sensitive ears, yank them, and force them to walk a certain way. Throughout their lives, they are thrashed and seriously injured by handlers, who often force them to give rides while suffering from untreated open wounds.

Box 15.5: Elephant Joy Rides - An Untold Story of Animal Cruelty While there is no doubt that the 30 minutes elephant rides up and down hill through the majestic Amer Fort in Jaipur gives the tourists an experience of a lifetime, there is a dark side to it - the health and wellbeing of the elephants. More than 100 elephants at the fort make multiple trips up and down 51 Welfare of Performing Animals throughout the day, even in the scorching heat. As the tourist numbers grow and the popularity of the joyrides increases the elephants have to overwork, often without proper time for food and rest.

Fig. 15.10. Elephant joy ride in Rajasthan (Source: Bobins Abraham, Oct 12, 2019, Indiatimes.com with Photos from World Animal Protection)

15.7.2 Horse Rides

In many cities, beaches and hill stations, horses are forced to give joy rides. They can often be seen struggling to pull heavy carts loaded with people, and they are frequently beaten or whipped when they become tired or slow down. They are forced to pull carts until late at night without adequate rest. Often, the horses are denied shade or any sort of protection from sun or rain. They are given substandard food and have hardly any access to water. The stables where they are housed are typically filthy. Some owners simply tie their horses at garbage dumps for the night so they do not even have to provide food for them. Some owners also make money by selling “black” horses’ shoes. This means the horses have to be shod over and over again, which can lead to chronic lameness. 15.7.3 Camel Rides

Camels are adapted to desert conditions, yet they are forced to live in cities across the country. In 1996, the Bombay High Court banned the entry of camels into the city of Mumbai. In spite of this order, camels have been found within the city limits on numerous occasions. Some have been brought in for slaughter, and others have been brought in for the purpose of giving joy rides to tourists. Camels can also be found giving rides to tourists in Ganpatipule, Lonavala, Pune, Kolhapur, Satara, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai and other cities.

Before we proceed, please complete activity 2. Activity 2 (Observation Study): Visit any nearby animal shelter or animal facility having elephants. Enquire about the purpose and observe how the elephants are controlled, housed, availability of food, water, shelter etc. Write your observations......

52 ...... Check Your Progress 2 Performing Animals Note: a) Use the spaces given below for your answers. b) Check your answer with those given at the end of the unit. 1) Write the welfare concerns in bullfights ...... 2) How the animals are treated in circuses? ...... 3) What are the welfare concerns in bull races? ......

15.8 ANIMALS USED IN SPORTS

There is nothing remotely “sporting” about sports that involve unwilling animal participants. For the animals that are forced to participate in them, these activities are no game - they are about survival. Even the “winners” emerge physically and emotionally scarred-and the losers pay with their lives. 15.8.1 Cock Fights

Cock fights are organized during the three-day Sankranti festival in coastal Andhra Pradesh, particularly Krishna, Guntur, East and West Godavari districts. Thousands of roosters, sharp knives, crores of betting money and huge arenas are involved in cock fights.

Roosters (adult male chicken) raised for fighting are often confined to cramped cages and tormented to make them perform. Razor-sharp spurs are attached to their feet to make fights more “exciting” (i.e, bloody). The birds sustain broken wings and legs, punctured lungs, severed spinal cords and gouged-out eyes. Those who survive are forced to fight again (Fig. 15.11). 53 Welfare of Performing Animals

Fig.15.11: Cock fights (Source: The Hindu, January 12, 2020)

The animals used for fighting are typically kept chained outdoors in horrific conditions with little or no shelter. They are starved, drugged, and beaten to make them aggressive. If they don’t die in the fighting ring, the “losers” are killed by their trainers -often by being electrocuted, drowned, hanged, burned, or shot. Many others are abandoned to die slowly from their injuries. 15.8.2 Jallikattu

Jallikattu (or sallikkattu) (bag of coins which was tied to the bull’s horns and the winner had to retrieve), also known as eruthazhuvuthal (embracing the bull) and manjuvirattu (chasing the bull), is a traditional spectacle in which a bull, such as the Pulikulam or Kangayam breeds, is released into a crowd of people, and multiple human participants attempt to grab the large hump on the bull’s back with both arms and hang on to it while the bull attempts to escape. Participants hold the hump for as long as possible, attempting to bring the bull to a stop. In some cases, participants must ride long enough to remove flags on the bull’s horns. Jallikattu is typically practised in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu as a part of Pongal celebrations on Mattu Pongal day, which occurs annually in January. During Jallikattu, a mob forms to terrify and chase bulls, who become so frightened that they often slam into barriers or spectators, often breaking their own bones, sometimes dying, and regularly injuring or killing spectators in the process (Fig.15.12).

Fig.15.12: Jallikattu

The sport is cruel as the bulls are violently tamed, often made to consume alcohol and chillies are rubbed into their eyes to provoke them. The bulls’ tails are twisted and even bitten in most painful manner. Many other acts of cruelty are done to provoke them to enter the arena. The Tamil Nadu Jallikattu federation is against a blanket ban on the sport but it agrees that people should be prevented from harming the bulls during the sport. Many other Jallikattu supporters also argue against the blanket ban but for regulating the sport to prevent cruelty to bulls.

As there were events of injury and death associated with the sport, both to the participants and to the animals forced into it, animal rights organizations and 54 AWBI have called for a ban to the sport, resulting in the Supreme Court of India Performing Animals banning it in the year 2014. However, with protest from the people against the ban, a new law was made in 2017 by the Tamil Nadu state government to continue the sport. 15.8.3 Kambala

Kambala (Tulu & Kannada) is an annual buffalo race held in some parts of Karnataka during November – March season. Traditionally, it is sponsored by local Tuluva landlords and households in the south Kannada and Udupi. Kambala is traditionally a simple sport which entertains rural people of the area. The kambala racetrack is a slushy paddy field, and the buffaloes are driven by a whip-lashing farmer (Fig.15.13).Traditional kambala was non-competitive, and the pair was run one by one. In modern kambala, the contest generally takes place between two pairs of buffaloes. Historically, the winning pair of buffaloes was rewarded with coconuts and bananas. Today, winning owners earn gold, silver and cash prizes.

Fig.15.13: Kambala

Animal lovers have criticised kambala as cruel to the racing buffaloes, which are driven by whips. Many animal-rights activists expressed concerns about the ill treatment of buffaloes during the race. Kambala organisers contend that whips are necessary to elicit maximum speed. Government officials advise the riders to be gentle on buffaloes and avoid using whips during the race.

In 2014, based on lawsuits filed by animal welfare organizations, the Supreme Court of India ordered a ban on events involving bulls such as kambala. The ban also covered jallikattu, a sport of hands-on bull taming. A government order lifted the ban on jallikattu in January 2017. The PCA Act (Karnataka Amendment Bill, 2017) re-legalized the kambala festival in Karnataka.

15.9 ANIMALS USED IN MOVIES, TELEVISIONS AND LIVE SHOWS

There is nothing glamorous about showbiz for primates, big cats, bears, and other animals that are used in television, film, or advertising; exploited as sports mascots; or used as props in Nativity displays. Torn away from their mothers as infants, these animals are subjected to abusive training methods and forced to spend most of their lives in small, filthy cages, deprived of everything that is natural and important to them.

Trainers who supply animals to the entertainment industry are frequently cited by the AWBI, which establishes only minimal guidelines for animal care. 55 Welfare of Performing Animals Though almost all films display the pre-screening note that “no animals were harmed during filming of the show”, the AWBI’s Performing Animal Sub- Committee claims that quite often they find scenes in films which they neither saw, nor cleared. Pre-shoot permission is first granted, following which a CD of the clips is viewed and cleared. After the AWBI gives their NOC, the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) passes the film.

The Broadcasting Content Complaints Council (BCCC) issued an advisory on depiction of animals/wildlife in television programmes to TV channels “not to produce, support the production of, purchase and broadcast content that is in any way harmful to the health and well-being, as well as the depiction, or any animal or species”.

In 2016, the GOI banned the screening of any visuals depicting cruelty to animals on television, soon after many television channels showed horrific scenes of dogs being burnt alive and another dog being flung from a terrace.

The Cable Television Networks Rules, 1994 was amended (The Cable Television Networks (Amendment) Rules, 2016) to ban the screening of any content that “depicts cruelty or violence towards animals in any form or provides unscientific belief that causes harm to animals.” This new provision will also apply to films shown on TV. The AWBI has also been pressing the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting that films shot inside India by local filmmakers or outside India by foreign filmmakers and imported into India should seek a NOC from AWBI to ascertain that no animal was harmed during the film.

Dog shows are organised to promote “purebred” dogs and to reinforce the stereotype that purebreds are better than Indian dogs. However, purebred dogs are already in trouble because of the genetic problems that plague many breeds as a result of inbreeding. Such shows only add to the demand for purebreds and thus encourage breeders to breed more and more dogs.

Dog shows themselves can also be a problem for purebred dogs. Sometimes dogs die in shows when they were made to run in extreme heat in order to test their competitive skills.

Breeding is encouraged for appearance matters that have nothing to do with the health of the dogs and sometimes affect it adversely. Pugs, for instance, notoriously have difficulty in breathing because of their short snouts. “Pedigree” animals are also susceptible to medical problems that arise from inbreeding and that are costly to treat or even life-threatening. Many purebred dogs are prone to hip dysplasia, heart defects, respiratory problems, epilepsy, eye and ear infections, back pain and other ailments. Mixed-breed dogs, on the other hand, tend to be healthier and more even-tempered than their purebred cousins are.

Before we proceed, please complete activity 3. Activity 3 (Review and Discussion): Review the Jallikattu / Kambala literature available in Internet. Compare it with the discussion given in the above section. Reflect on your own view of animal welfare. Which area of concern is most important for you - cultural significance or animal welfare concern or combination of both? Discuss these concerns with friends or colleagues to see which area of concern is most prevalent and write the 56 outcome: Performing Animals ......

Check Your Progress 3 Note: a) Use the spaces given below for your answers. b) Check your answer with those given at the end of the unit. 1) What do you understand by Jallikattu? ...... 2) What is Kambala? ......

15.10 LET US SUM UP

Performing animals are the animals which are used for the purpose of any entertainment to which the public are admitted through sale of tickets. The use of animals for entertainment dates back to thousands of years. Various forms of entertainment include use of animals in fighting, circuses, races, tourism, sports etc. The use of animals in entertainment creates serious issues both in terms of 57 Welfare of Performing Animals the welfare of the individual animal as well as species conservation in some cases. Animals used in entertainment are broadly classified into five broad categories: fighting / killing (bullfights); circuses (dogs, birds, horses/ ponies, elephants, camels etc); races (bullock cart race, tonga race, dog races etc); tourism (elephants, horses and camel’s joy rides) and; sports (cock fights, jallikattu, kambala). There exists a conflict between cultural significance vs. animal welfare concerns in cock fights, Jallikattu, Kambala etc. The animal rights organizations and AWBI have called for a complete ban as they are cruel,while the supporters argue against the blanket ban, but for regulating the sport to prevent cruelty to animals. The improvement of the welfare conditions of the performing animals could be achieved by ensuring welfare friendly animal husbandry practices. We can also ensure the improvement in performing animal’s welfare through enforcement or implementation of animal protection laws.

(In the next unit, the welfare issues in performing animals are discussed)

15.11 KEYWORDS

Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI): The AWBI is a statutory advisory body on animal welfare to Government of India’s Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. Bullhook / Ankus: It is a tool employed to train and handles the elephants. Circus: A travelling company of acrobats, clowns, and other entertainers which gives performances, typically in a large tent in a series at different places and using animals too in performances. Cockfight: A cockfight is a blood sport between two cocks, or gamecocks, held in a ring called a cockpit. Conservation: Conservation refers to the practice of protecting wild species and their habitats in order to prevent species from going extinct/endangered and to preserve natural ecosystems. Jallikattu: It is a traditional spectacle in which a bull is released into a crowd of people, and multiple human participants attempt to grab the large hump on the bull’s back with both arms and hang on to it while the bull attempts to escape. Participants hold the hump for as long as possible, attempting to bring the bull to a stop. Kambala: It is an annual buffalo race in slushy paddy field wherein buffaloes are driven by a whip-lashing farmer. Lameness: This refers to the limping by any animal due to some injury on any of the four limbs or the hooves. Performing Animal: Any animal which is used at or for the purpose of any entertainment to which public are admitted through sale of tickets.

15.12 BIBLIOGRAPHY AND FURTHER READING

Appleby, M.C. (1999). What Should We Do About Animal Welfare? Blackwell Science, Oxford. 58 Appleby, M.C. and Hughes, B.O. (1997). Animal Welfare. CABI, Wellington, Performing Animals UK. Broom, D.M. and Johnson, K.G. (1993). Stress and Animal Welfare. Springer, Dordrecht, Netherlands. Dawkins, M.S. (1986). Unravelling Animal Behavior. (2nd Edition).Longman, Harlow, UK. Webster, J. (1995). Animal Welfare: A Cool Eye Towards Eden. Blackwell Science, UK. Website: People for Ethical Treatment of Animals Website: www.peta.org&www.petaindia.com

15.13 SELF ASSESSMENT EXERCISES 1) Some exotic animals live longer in captivity than they would in the wild. Do you agree with this statement? Illustrate. 2) What is a performing animal? Enlist the type of performances done by horses/ ponies, dogs, camels and elephants. 3) What are the various forms of entertainment? Discuss about the animals used in circuses. 15.14 ANSWERS / HINTS TO CHECK YOUR PROGRESS

Check Your Progress 1

1) Performing animals means any animal which is used at, or for the purpose of any entertainment to which the public are admitted through sale of tickets.

2) Various forms of animal based entertainment include - fighting, circuses, racing, tourism rides and sports.

3) The main purpose of entertainment animals is recreational. Other purpose combines recreation with educational goals, such as teaching the public about the conservation and preservation of endangered species.

4) (a) Animal Fighting / Killing - e.g. bullfights, (b) Circuses - e.g. shows by dogs, birds, horses/ ponies, elephants, camels etc., (c) Races - e.g. bullock cart race, tonga race, dog races etc., (d) Tourism – e.g. elephants, horses and camel’s joy rides, (e) Sports - e.g. jallikattu, kambla, elephant polo, horse polo, hunting, fishing etc.

Check Your Progress 2

1) Many bulls are typically used in bullfighting events. In each round, two bulls are brought together and surrounded by a ring of spectators. The bulls’ horns are sharpened to ensure that every charge will cause bloody gashes and deep puncture wounds. The round ends when one of the bulls is either 59 Welfare of Performing Animals killed or manages to flee. The survivors of each round fight each other while spectators bet on the outcome. The “winner” is the last bull left alive – but by then, the bull’s injuries are often so severe that he is sent to slaughter.

2) Animals in circuses lead a life of endless confinement, constant physical abuse and psychological torment. They are trained and compelled to perform under threat of beatings and whippings. Animals do not want to perform painful, confusing and demeaning tricks, but in circuses they have no choice. Trainers use abusive tools, including whips and electric prods, to force them to perform.

3) During races, bulls / bullocks are often beaten mercilessly with wooden sticks that are spiked with nails in order to get them to run faster in the sweltering heat and that painful twisting and biting of their tails is common. Animal owners even administer electric shocks to animals with a live wire attached to a potable battery and twist, break and chew their tails to force them to run.

Check Your Progress 3

1) Jallikattu is a traditional spectacle in which a bull is released into a crowd of people, and multiple human participants attempt to grab the large hump on the bull’s back with both arms and hang on to it while the bull attempts to escape. Participants hold the hump for as long as possible, attempting to bring the bull to a stop.

2) Kambala is an annual buffalo race held in some parts of Karnataka during November – March season. The kambala race track is a slushy paddy field, and the buffaloes are driven by a whip-lashing farmer. Traditional kambala was non-competitive, and the pair was run one by one. In modern kambala, the contest generally takes place between two pairs of buffaloes. Historically, the winning pair of buffaloes was rewarded with coconuts and bananas. Today, winning owners earn gold, silver and cash prizes.

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