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Contents I. Details of the Investigations ...... 3 II. Executive Summary ...... 3 III. Key Observations and Findings ...... 3 A. Rampant Cruelty to Bulls ...... 4 1. Avaniapuram Jallikattu ...... 4 2. Palamedu Jallikattu ...... 18 3. Periya Suriyur Jallikattu ...... 26 4. Alanganallur Jallikattu ...... 36 5. Panjampatti T Jallikattu...... 45 6. Pothamettupatti Jallikattu ...... 60 7. Kokkudi Jallikattu ...... 71 B. Farce Medical Examination ...... 84 C. Avaniapuram Collection Yard: A Sham ...... 85 D. Cruel Practice of Cutting Loose Nose Ropes From a Height ...... 86 E. Illegal Parallel Bull-Taming ...... 87 IV. Legal Violations ...... 88 V. Other Information ...... 94 A. Data on Bull and Human Casualties ...... 94 B. Compound Fines No Deterrent for Fox Jallikattu Organisers ...... 94 C. Hen Jallikattu for Women ...... 95 D. Health Minister Asks Organisers to Avoid Making Bulls Wait for Hours ...... 96 E. PIL Against the Use of Foreign Bulls’ Species in Jallikattu ...... 96 F. Plea to Quash the Government Order That Notified Jallikattu ...... 97 G. News Reports Regarding Cruelty to Animals and Casualties ...... 97 VI. Discussion and Conclusion ...... 101
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I. Details of the Investigations
Dates: 15 January–19 January 2020
Jallikattu Events Investigated Avaniapuram, Madurai District, 15 January Palamedu, Madurai District, 16 January Periya Suriyur, Tiruchirappalli District, 16 January Alanganallur, Madurai District, 17 January Panjampatti T, Dindigul District, 17 January Pothamettupatti, Tiruchirappalli District, 18 January Kokkudi, Ariyalur District, 19 January
Objectives of the Investigations To record the treatment of bulls To check for violations of animal protection laws and rules To record any reported human or bull injuries and casualties
II. Executive Summary
The comprehensive investigations conducted by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India at seven jallikattu events organised in four districts in the state of Tamil Nadu from 15 to 19 January 2020 identified and recorded numerous instances of physical and mental cruelty to bulls.
PETA India’s latest eyewitness investigation as well as investigations of jallikattu events conducted in previous years reconfirm that jallikattu takes advantage of bulls’ natural nervousness as prey animals by deliberately placing them in a terrifying situation in which they’re forced to run away from those they rightly perceive as a threat. The evidence – in the form of photographs and video footage – demonstrates that bulls are whipped with ropes, hit, kicked and jumped on, tackled, and poked and jabbed with metal sticks, wooden sticks (including nail-tipped ones), and metal sickles. Their tails are bitten and twisted, and they’re treated in other cruel ways. At bigger events, exhausted and dehydrated animals were forced to participate in jallikattu after standing in queues for several hours without overhead shelter or sufficient water and feed. They were yanked roughly by nose ropes, causing their nostrils to bleed, and many collapsed from exhaustion or dehydration before and after they ran through the arena. Such abuse led to severe injuries, including broken bones, and even death. In this year’s jallikattu season, the number of deaths of both bulls and humans at the events has skyrocketed within less than three months.
Bull injuries and deaths are not always reported by the media. Yet this year, between January and March alone, six bulls have reportedly died during jallikattu events. At least five bulls and one cow reportedly died during jallikattu events from January to April 2019. At least six bulls died in 2018, and at least three died in 2017. Over the years, there has been a steady increase in the reporting of bull deaths, confirming that no amount of regulation can prevent cruelty and injury to them. Human injuries and deaths are better reported by the media. So far in 2020, at least 570 have sustained injuries and 13 have died during jallikattu events. In 2019, at least nine humans lost their lives during jallikattu events and 627 sustained injuries. The total number of
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human fatalities resulting from jallikattu events in the last three years, from 2017 to April 2019, is at least 51, according to news reports, and 3,007 humans were injured. As jallikattu continues, a staggering number of human deaths and injuries continue to occur.
Inspections conducted by the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) in 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014 and investigations by PETA India in 2017, 2018, and 2019 have also demonstrated that jallikattu is inherently cruel, causes bulls unnecessary suffering, and is apparently in direct violation of the provisions of Sections 3 and 11 of The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PCA) Act, 1960. The findings of the AWBI were upheld by the Honourable Supreme Court of India in its landmark judgment of May 2014.
The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Tamil Nadu Amendment) Act, 2017, received the assent of the president on 31 January 2017 and was deemed to have come into force on 21 January 2017. This Tamil Nadu state law amended the PCA Act, 1960, to allow jallikattu, which includes “manjuviratu”, “vadamadu”, and “erudhuvidumvizha”. The state government also devised corresponding rules – namely, the Tamil Nadu Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Conduct of Jallikattu) Rules, 2017 – regarding jallikattu events, but PETA India’s findings consistently show the rules do not prevent human or bull injuries and deaths. The Tamil Nadu Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Conduct of Jallikattu) Rules, 2017, does not include any fine or punishment that can be levied against people who violate the Rules or inflict cruelty on bulls at jallikattu events. PETA India’s 2020 investigation once again shows that jallikattu must be banned.
III. Key Observations and Findings
A. Rampant Cruelty to Bulls Photographic evidence of observations and findings from seven jallikattu events that took place between 15 and 19 January 2020 are listed below.
The photographs and videos are included on a CD as Annexure 1 for reference.
1. Avaniapuram Jallikattu
Photo 1: A person jabs a reluctant bull with a metal stick inside the vaadi vaasal.
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Photo 2: A bull is poked with a metal stick in the vaadi vaasal.
Photo 3: A bull is poked with a metal stick in the vaadi vaasal.
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Photo 4: A bull is jabbed with a long metal stick inside the vaadi vaasal.
Photo 5: A man holds a long metal stick inside the vaadi vaasal.
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Photo 6: A bull’s tail is yanked in order to force the animal to run out of the vaadi vaasal.
Photo 7: Many tamers attempt to subdue a bull as some hold the horns, which is not permitted.
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Photo 8: Several tamers attempt to subdue a bull together.
Photo 9: Many tamers yank on a bull’s head in their desperate attempt to subdue the animal.
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Photo 10: Many tamers pounce on a bull.
Photo 11: A bull falls onto a tamer inside the arena.
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Photo 12: A panicked bull charges back into the vaadi vaasal from the arena.
Photo 13: A spectator partakes in illegal parallel jallikattu in the bull run area.
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.
Photo 14: Men hold onto the tail of a reluctant bull to force him to participate in jallikattu.
Photo 15: A bull owner yanks on a bull’s tail to force him forward.
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Photo 16: A bull’s tail is yanked in order to force the animal into the vaadi vaasal.
Photo 17: An owner whips his reluctant bull with a rope in the waiting area.
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Photo 18: There was no overhead shelter in the queue leading to the vaadi vaasal.
Photo 19: A reluctant, blindfolded bull is dragged forward in the queue to the vaadi vaasal.
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Photo 20: Men roughly yank the nose ropes of a reluctant bull in the queue.
Photo 21: A bull leaps and falls to the ground after running amok.
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Photo 22: The bull collection yard was located on the premises of the Urban Primary Health Centre of Avaniapuram.
Photo 23: The collection yard had only one scanty pile of fresh green grass as feed and two buckets of drinking water for bulls forced to participate in the event.
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Photo 24: VIP vehicles are parked on the premises of the Urban Primary Health Centre of Avaniapuram, which served as the makeshift bull collection yard.
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Photo 25: Many spectators take sadistic joy in whacking fleeing bulls with their bare hands.
Photo 26: Spectators hit a fleeing bull on a street in Avaniapuram.
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Photo 27: An onlooker who was gored by a fleeing bull in the village after the bull’s run is taken to the medical centre.
2. Palamedu Jallikattu
Photo 28: There was no overhead shelter in the queue leading to the vaadi vaasal.
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Photo 29: A person holds a stick used to jab reluctant bulls inside the vaadi vaasal.
Photo 30: A bull leaps over broken barricades near the collection yard.
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Photo 31: In desperation, a terrified bull attempts to escape the chaos by charging through a double barricade.
Photo 32: Bulls flee over broken barricades.
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Photo 33: Several fleeing bulls attacked onlookers and passers-by in Palamedu village.
Photo 34: A bull charges out of the collection yard, which had a few troughs with drinking water.
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Photo 35: Spectators who sneaked into the collection yard hit fleeing bulls with their bare hands.
Photo 36: A spectator partakes in illegal parallel jallikattu near the collection yard.
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Photo 37: A spectator partakes in illegal jallikattu using a fleeing bull near the collection yard.
Photo 38: An onlooker is attacked by a fleeing bull near the collection yard.
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Photo 39: A person is gored by a bull fleeing the collection yard.
Photo 40: A spectator is gored by a bull fleeing the collection yard.
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Photo 41: Injured by a bull, this spectator was taken to the medical centre.
Photo 42: A reluctant bull is in agony as a man pulls on the nose rope, dragging the bull against his will.
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Photo 43: A nose rope of a bull is roughly handled in the collection yard.
3. Periya Suriyur Jallikattu
Photo 44: A bull’s nostrils bleed as the nose ropes are roughly yanked in the bull waiting area.
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Photo 45: A bull’s nostrils bleed as the nose ropes are roughly yanked near the queue to the vaadi vaasal.
Photo 46: A man whacks a scared bull with his bare hand inside the vaadi vaasal.
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Photo 47: A bull’s nostrils bleed as a nose rope is roughly yanked inside the vaadi vaasal.
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Photo 48: A bull owner bites a bull’s tail in order to force the animal to flee from the vaadi vaasal.
Photo 49: A man twists a bull’s tail in order to force the animal to flee from the vaadi vaasal.
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Photo 50: A confused bull returns to the vaadi vaasal from the arena.
Photo 51: A man whacks an exhausted, reluctant bull on his snout to force the animal to get back to his feet.
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Photo 52: A man hits an exhausted, reluctant bull fallen to the ground in the queue to the vaadi vaasal in order to force him to get back up.
Photo 53: A bull is whacked and forced into the queue in the bull waiting area.
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Photo 54: A reluctant bull sits on the ground in the queue in the bull waiting area.
Photo 55: Boisterous onlookers hit fleeing bulls with their bare hands in the collection yard.
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Photo 56: A man yanks the tail of a reluctant bull while jabbing him with a wooden stick inside the bull waiting area.
Photo 57: A man roughly yanks the tail of a bull in the bull waiting area.
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Photo 58: A bull’s tail is yanked as he’s forced into the queue leading to the vaadi vaasal.
Photo 59: A bull owner twists a bull’s tail in order to force the animal to move in the bull waiting area.
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Photo 60: There was no overhead shelter in the queue leading to the vaadi vaasal.
Photo 61: The entrance to the collection yard is blocked by onlookers and bull catchers.
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Photo 62: The entrance to the collection yard is blocked by onlookers and bull catchers.
4. Alanganallur Jallikattu
Photo 63: A bull with bleeding nostrils emerges from the vaadi vaasal.
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Photo 64: A bull is poked with a wooden stick to force the animal to run out of the vaadi vaasal.
Photo 65: Boisterous onlookers hit a fleeing bull with their bare hands in the collection yard.
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Photo 66: Spectators hit fleeing bulls in the bull run area.
Photo 67: A bull almost gores a tamer inside the arena.
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Photo 68: A bull gores a tamer in the arena. (Many tamers sustained injuries.)
Photo 69: Many tamers attempt to subdue a bull as some hold the horns.
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Photo 70: Several tamers attempt to subdue a bull together.
Photo 71: Two tamers pounce on a bull fleeing the vaadi vaasal.
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Photo 72: Several tamers attempt to subdue a bull.
Photo 73: The weight of a tamer causes a bull to fall to the ground inside the arena.
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Photo 74: An injured tamer is carried by fellow tamers as the emergency medical assistance team arrives.
Photo 75: A person injured at the event looks on.
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Photo 76: Tamers block the entrance to the vaadi vaasal, which is against the rules.
Photo 77: Bulls trample the barricades of the bull run area.
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Photo 78: Hordes of onlookers crowd inside the collection yard, where per the rules, only bull owners are allowed.
Photo 79: This bull’s tail is yanked to force the animal out of the collection yard.
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5. Panjampatti T Jallikattu
Photo 80: A bull’s tail is bitten in order to force the animal to run out of the vaadi vaasal.
Photo 81: A man pokes a bull with a metal sickle inside the vaadi vaasal.
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Photo 82: This is a close-up view of a nail-tipped wooden stick used to jab and otherwise torture scared bulls inside the vaadi vaasal.
Photo 83: A bull’s tail is yanked to force him to enter the vaadi vaasal. In the background is the nail-tipped wooden stick.
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Photo 84: A bull is poked with a nail-tipped wooden stick as the owner whacks the scared animal with his left hand to force him out of the vaadi vaasal.
Photo 85: A man jabs a scared bull with a nail-tipped wooden stick inside the vaadi vaasal.
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Photo 86: A scared bull is prodded and poked with a stick inside the vaadi vaasal.
Photo 87: A bull is poked with a stick inside the vaadi vaasal.
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Photo 88: A reluctant bull is prodded and poked with two wooden sticks to force him into the vaadi vaasal.
Photo 89: A bull is poked with a wooden stick to force the animal to enter the vaadi vaasal.
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Photo 90: A bull is poked with a wooden stick to force the scared animal to enter the vaadi vaasal.
Photo 91: A bull’s tail is roughly yanked to force him into the vaadi vaasal.
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Photo 92: A bull’s tail is roughly yanked and handled to force the reluctant animal into the vaadi vaasal.
Photo 93: A bull’s tail is twisted to force the reluctant animal into the vaadi vaasal.
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Photo 94: A bull owner twists a bull’s tail in order to force the animal to flee the vaadi vaasal.
Photo 95: A bull’s tail is yanked in order to force him to run out of the vaadi vaasal.
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Photo 96: A bull stretches his tongue out in agony as men roughly yank up on the nose rope in the vaadi vaasal.
Photo 97: A bull’s nostrils are held by his owner inside the vaadi vaasal.
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Photo 98: Many tamers attempt to subdue a bull as some hold the horns, which is not permitted.
Photo 99: Several tamers attempt to subdue a bull together.
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Photo 100: Many tamers pounce on a bull.
Photo 101: Many tamers attempt to subdue a bull as some hold the horns, which is not permitted.
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Photo 102: A bull’s tail is yanked by his owner in full view of the arena, as a tamer holds onto the bull’s hump.
Photo 103: A tamer is attacked by a bull in the arena.
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Photo 104: A person injured at the event receives medical assistance.
Photo 105: A man injured at the event receives medical treatment.
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Photo 106: There was no overhead shelter in the queue leading to the vaadi vaasal.
Photo 107: Dung was found inside an otherwise empty trough in the bull waiting area.
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Photo 108: There was no feed or overhead shelter in the collection yard.
Photo 109: Only a few troughs with drinking water were kept for the bulls in the collection yard.
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6. Pothamettupatti Jallikattu
Photo 110: A bull is poked with a metal sickle inside the vaadi vaasal.
Photo 111: An owner holds a metal sickle to force a bull to run out of the vaadi vaasal.
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Photo 112: A bull is poked with a stick inside the vaadi vaasal.
Photo 113: This bull fell to the ground after the ropes he was strung up by snapped.
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Photo 114: A bull’s nostrils bleed because of rough handling of a nose rope.
Photo 115: A fleeing bull’s nostrils bleed profusely because of rough handling of the nose rope.
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Photo 116: A bull’s nostril bleeds because of rough handling of a nose rope.
Photo 117: One bull falls over another already on the ground after they collided with each other in the arena.
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Photo 118: A tamer is tossed off the ground by a bull in the arena.
Photo 119: A spectator is attacked by a fleeing bull near the collection yard.
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Photo 120: A bull falls to the ground as he runs through a turn in the bull run area.
Photo 121: Another bull skids off the ground as he runs through a turn in the bull run area.
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Photo 122: A fleeing bull tramples a barricade around the bull run area.
Photo 123: Spectators, including a child, hit a fleeing bull in the bull run area.
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Photo 124: An injured person inside the bull run area is rescued.
Photo 125: Spectators hit fleeing bulls in the bull run area.
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Photo 126: Two tamers simultaneously attempt to subdue a bull.
Photo 127: Two men yank a bull’s tail in full view of spectators.
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Photo 128: The entrance to the collection yard is blocked by onlookers and bull catchers.
Photo 129: Bulls flee through hordes of onlookers crowded inside the collection yard, where per the rules, only bull owners are allowed.
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Photo 130: Two bulls attack each other inside the bull run area.
Photo 131: The bull waiting area near the queue leading to the vaadi vaasal lacked overhead shelter, food, and water.
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Photo 132: There was no overhead shelter in the queue leading to the vaadi vaasal.
7. Kokkudi Jallikattu
Photo 133: A bull is poked with a stick inside the vaadi vaasal.
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Photo 134: A man pokes a scared bull with a short wooden object.
Photo 135: A bull is jabbed with a stick inside the vaadi vaasal.
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Photo 136: A bull owner kicks his bull to force the animal out of the vaadi vaasal.
Photo 137: A bull owner is attacked by a bull inside the vaadi vaasal.
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Photo 138: A bull’s nose rope is snapped from above inside the vaadi vaasal, forcing the animal to stand on his hind legs.
Photo 139: A bull’s nostrils bleed profusely in the arena because of the rough handling of a nose rope.
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Photo 140: A bull’s nostril bleeds because of rough handling of a nose rope.
Photo 141: An exhausted bull’s tail is yanked to force the animal back on his feet.
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Photo 142: A bull owner pokes an animal with a wooden stick to force him to get back on his feet inside the collection yard.
Photo 143: A reluctant bull is jabbed with wooden sticks by his owners.
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Photo 144: Men attack two bulls with sticks to break up their fight.
Photo 145: A bull is cruelly restrained, with his left hind leg and tail held, as others hold onto his muzzle.
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Photo 146: Many tamers pounce on a bull to subdue him.
Photo 147: Two tamers hold onto a bull.
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Photo 148: Three men tame a bull simultaneously, which is against the rules.
Photo 149: A reluctant bull is pulled by a rope.
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Photo 150: A reluctant, blindfolded bull is dragged forward in the queue to the vaadi vaasal.
Photo 151: There was no overhead shelter for the queue leading to the vaadi vaasal.
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Photo 152: The queue to the vaadi vaasal lacked overhead shelter, food, and water.
Photo 153: Hordes of onlookers crowd inside the collection yard, where per the rules, only bull owners are allowed.
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Photo 154: A bull wades in a pond inside the collection yard, which had no barricade.
Photo 155: An injured person is carried to the medical camp at the venue.
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Photo 156: A doctor stitches up a man’s wound sustained at the venue.
Photo 157: Bleeding profusely, an injured man receives medical attention.
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B. Farce Medical Examination During the investigation, the veterinarians conducting the physical medical examination of bulls used for jallikattu displayed shocking levels of negligence and laxity. The malpractice was first observed at the jallikattu event held on 16 January 2020 in Periya Suriyur, where bull owners accompanied by their respective animals visited the bulls’ medical examination enclosure and handed over the animals’ documents to the authorities present there. The authorities at the bull examination enclosure verified the documents and took note of the details about the bulls. The bulls’ horns were marked with a coloured paint, and the animals were allowed to participate without any physical or mental health examination. The undercover videos show there was no physical medical examination of several bulls at the event’s bull medical examination enclosure, yet those animals were declared medically fit for jallikattu participation.
Instances of negligence at the bulls’ medical examination enclosure at the Panjampatti T jallikattu event held on 17 January 2020 near Sanarpatti in Dindigul District were very similar to those shown by medical authorities at the Periya Suriyur jallikattu event. At Panjampatti T, the documents furnished by the bulls’ owners were verified and several bulls in the queue were declared fit without any physical or mental health examination. A small number of bulls (who were declared medically fit for participation) were allowed to proceed to the vaadi vaasal after their horns were painted blue.
The observations made at the Kokkudi jallikattu event held on 19 January 2020 were very similar to those made at the previous two jallikattu events. The authorities at the bulls’ medical examination enclosure verified the documents and took note of the details about the bulls furnished by the owners. Then the authorities allowed several bulls to participate, letting them proceed further in the queue towards the vaadi vaasal and arena, without any physical medical examination. The unethical and unprofessional malpractice of declaring several bulls medically fit without the necessary physical and mental health examinations raises serious questions about the fitness of the bulls who were forced to participate in this event.
Photo 158: Several bulls were declared fit without a physical examination, as seen here in Kokkudi.
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C. Avaniapuram Collection Yard: A Sham A shocking revelation that came about at the Avaniapuram jallikattu event held on 15 January 2020 was that the walled property of the Urban Primary Health Centre of Avaniapuram was designated as the makeshift bull collection yard, but without any space for bulls to move and without barricades. The eyewitness observed that government authorities’ four-wheelers and two-wheelers were parked there and took photographic evidence. Most bulls did not enter the makeshift bull collection yard, as it was located on the right side of the bull run area and no barricades had been erected to divert them from the bull run area into the designated collection yard. As a result, over 90% of the bulls ran right into the town of Avaniapuram and its bylanes after fleeing the arena. Only a handful of bulls strayed into the bull collection yard. Most of those who entered the yard exited (without being restrained or caught) through the other gate of the Urban Primary Health Centre of Avaniapuram. Two buckets of water and some grass for the bulls were found strewn near a wall in the bull collection yard. This was grossly inadequate as feed and drinking water for the 644 bulls who were reportedly forced to participate in the Avaniapuram jallikattu event on 15 January 2020.
The inability of the event’s organisers to provide adequate water and feed as well as a double- barricaded bull collection yard that was out of bounds for passers-by only highlight their insensitive attitude towards both bulls and humans.
Photo 159: The bull collection yard was located at the Urban Primary Health Centre of Avaniapuram.
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Photo 160: Some grass and two buckets of drinking water were kept on the Urban Primary Health Centre of Avaniapuram’s premises for bulls.
D. Cruel Practice of Cutting Loose Nose Ropes From a Height One of the cruellest practices followed at almost all the jallikattu events we investigated was that of snapping or cutting bulls’ nose ropes and face ropes from several feet above the ground inside the vaadi vaasals. This practice caused bulls much visible pain and agony. Some were filmed or otherwise documented almost hanging, lifted solely by their nose ropes (which were held from a height) and balancing on their hind feet, with their forelegs off the ground. The rough handling and snapping of nose ropes from a height also caused the nostrils of several bulls to bleed. Bulls with bleeding nostrils were observed and filmed at most of these jallikattu events. At Pothamettupatti, in particular, numerous bulls with bleeding nostrils were observed and photographed. Several bulls’ bloody nostrils were seen and filmed inside the vaadi vaasals and in the arena right after the bulls had fled the vaadi vaasal. The practice of snapping or cutting the ropes from a height is done by the jallikattu events’ organisers and bull owners perched high up in order to ensure that they aren’t at risk of being injured or trampled by the bulls in the vaadi vaasal. The malpractice also agitates the bull by inducing pain and fear. As most vaadi vaasals are very narrow by design, organisers and owners are able to sit atop the stalls and indulge in this painful practice at most jallikattu events, thereby illustrating that the sport is inherently cruel to bulls. The nose ropes are also commonly roughly yanked when owners drag bulls into the vaadi vaasals.
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Photo 161: A bull dangles from a nose rope that’s yanked high up to be snapped by the organisers inside the vaadi vaasal in Kokkudi.
E. Illegal Parallel Bull-Taming Spectators and onlookers across the jallikattu events were filmed and otherwise documented pouncing on and illegally taming bulls who were fleeing in bull run areas as well as both inside and outside the collection yards, where boisterous spectators jumped onto bulls and held onto their humps. This illegal practice was particularly rampant in six of the seven events – those in Avaniapuram, Kokkudi, Palamedu, Panjampatti T, Periya Suriyur, and Pothamettupatti.
Parallel jallikattu causes additional physical injuries and mental trauma to the scared bulls. While the tamers are bought in batches as participants and have to tame the bulls inside the arena within a stipulated timeframe, onlookers indulge in pouncing and illegally taming bulls from the start of the event until it ends. In Panjampatti T, men were observed drinking alcohol and then attempting to tame bulls fleeing the collection yard in an inebriated state.
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Photo 162: A spectator holds onto a bull fleeing the collection yard in Palamedu.
IV. Legal Violations
The PCA (Tamil Nadu Amendment) Act, 2017; the Tamil Nadu PCA (Conduct of Jallikattu) Rules, 2017; and the AWBI jallikattu guidelines, 2018, were all blatantly flouted in the seven jallikattu events in four districts of Tamil Nadu that PETA India investigated in 2020. The findings of the investigation and evidence of abuse documented in photographs and video footage prove that no amount of regulation can prevent cruelty to bulls during jallikattu events.
Tamil Nadu Prevention of Cruelty to Violations at the Seven Events Animals Investigated (Conduct of Jallikattu) Rules, 2017 3. Procedure for Conduct of Jallikattu The Alanganallur, Avaniapuram, (7) The organizers shall conduct Jallikattu Panjampatti T, and Pothamettupatti in an open ground with the following events were conducted in the middle facilities. of towns or villages on narrow public roads. (a) The bulls shall be provided rest for a This was not implemented at any of minimum of 20 minutes before they are the events. brought into the arena. (b) In the holding area, each bull shall be provided adequate space to exhibit the normal behaviour. Each bull shall be At all seven events, bulls were kept in provided a minimum space of 60 square queues by squeezing them in feet. Adequate feed and water shall be sideways. At large events such as provided to the bulls and they shall be those in Alanganallur, Avaniapuram, and Palamedu, bulls were forced to allowed to perform their normal physiological functions. stand on the evening before the event and made to wait this way for up to 16
hours.
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At all the events, bulls with visible (d) The bulls shall be thoroughly observed injuries or mutilations, such as cut for any physical injuries to the body parts ears, were found in the queue for the like mutilated ears, fractured tail, etc. by vaadi vaasal – beyond the medical Veterinarians of the Animal Husbandry examination area, where they should Department. If any injury is found, they have been rejected. shall not be permitted to participate in the
event and shall be sent back.
At all the events, the roofing was inadequate and didn’t provide the bulls with protection from rain and (e) The bull holding area shall be provided sunlight. with adequate roofing (shamiana / thatched roof) so as to protect the bulls from rain or During the Pothamettupatti jallikattu sunlight. event, bulls were drenched in the rain in the queues to the vaadi vaasal and collection yard (as both were without shelter/shamiana). At all the events, bulls were filmed (f) The holding area shall be maintained standing in accumulated dung and neat, clean and hygienic. All wastes like urine in the holding areas. Dung and dung and organic wastes shall be cleared other waste had not been cleared from then and there and disinfectants shall be the holding areas at any of the events. used liberally to ensure complete hygiene.
4. Examination of Bulls Eyewitness observed and filmed bulls brought to the government veterinarian for check-ups who were declared fit and allowed to move ahead to the vaadi vaasal without undergoing the mandatory veterinary (1) The bulls shall be compulsorily examination to assess their mental and subjected to veterinary examination by the physical health. The photos of bulls in qualified veterinarians of Animal the documents were simply verified at Husbandry Department. the medical examination camp, and the bulls were allowed to participate. This malpractice was observed and filmed during the latter half of the day at the Kokkudi, Panjampatti T, and Periya Suriyur jallikattu events.
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In all seven events, bulls showing symptoms of fatigue, dehydration, restlessness, etc., were forced to participate. (2) The participating bulls shall be
examined for general health by clinical Reluctant, scared, and exhausted bulls examination. Bulls showing symptoms of were poked and hit with wooden fatigue, dehydration, restlessness, etc. shall sticks, whacked with bare hands, and be identified and not permitted to participate blindfolded, and their tails were further in the event. twisted, yanked, and bitten in the queue leading to the vaadi vaasal after they were declared fit to participate.
5. Arena
(1) Arena shall be at least a 50 square metre Rules about embracing bulls were area. The bulls have to be embraced by the violated participants within this 50 square metre at all the events, as the tamers subdued area. bulls well beyond 50–square metre areas. All these rules except the coir pith one were violated at all seven events.
At Alanganallur, one tamer was filmed holding onto a bull for 15 jumps. Another tamer there was filmed holding onto a bull’s hump for 10 jumps continuously for 10 seconds. (2) The participants shall not be permitted A tamer at Avaniapuram held onto a to stand in front of the bulls as they enter bull’s hump continuously for 27 the arena. They shall also not be permitted seconds, even though the bull jumped to block the exit way for the bulls. The more than three times. Many tamers participants shall be permitted only to were filmed taming bulls beyond the embrace the bulls by their hump and run limit of 15 metres. along with the bull for 15 metres or for 30
seconds or sustain three jumps of the bull. In their desire and greed for prizes like The participants shall not hold on to the tail, silver coins, furniture, motorbikes, and horns using their hands or restrict the a four-wheeler car, tamers held onto movement of the bulls by holding on to the the animals for more than the bulls’ legs. The participants violating these prescribed distance and duration, i.e. guidelines shall be liable to be debarred held bulls’ humps for more than 15 from participating further in the event. The metres or longer than 30 seconds and 15 metre area shall be liberally strewn with forced the bulls to jump more than coir pith. three times, much to the animals’ discomfort.
Many tamers in all seven jallikattu events held onto bulls’ horns. The majority of tamers who ended up “taming” a bull after doing so weren’t disqualified and were awarded prizes.
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If every tamer who held onto bulls’ horns had been disqualified, only a handful would have remained in the arena.
The organisers and jallikattu committees took a lenient approach and gave tamers who broke the rules prizes instead of issuing warnings, denying them prizes, or ending their participation. Regulating the spectacle is impossible when the organisers themselves hand out prizes to participants who flout the rules instead of punishing them.
6. Bull Run Area
(1) The area after the bull embrace area up to the Bull collection yard is the Bull Run area. A strong double barricade should At the Kokkudi and Pothamettupatti separate the galleries from the arena. The events, there was only a single spectator gallery shall be constructed from barricade in the arena instead of a at least 15 metres beyond the point where double barricade. the bulls are released so as to minimise the noise from the spectators at the time of the bull release.
(2) After the run of 15 metres, when the bulls enter the bull run area, the participants are not to be allowed to touch the bulls. The Bull Run area should cover a minimum of 100 metres length to facilitate the bulls to Participants were filmed taming the the exit without any anxiety into the bulls well beyond 15 metres in bull collection yard. The entire activity starting runs at all seven events. from entry of the bulls into the arena up to the bull collection yard shall be completed in 60 to 120 seconds.
7. Bull Collection Yard (1) The bull collection yard shall be made The bull collection yard in out of bounds for others. Only the bull Avaniapuram was located inside the owners or their authorised personnel shall walled property of the Urban Primary be allowed to enter the bull collection yard. Health Centre of Avaniapuram, which A minimum of 60 square feet area shall be had four-wheelers of VIPs and two- made available for each bull and at a time. wheelers parked in it. The collection The bulls after completing the run will enter yards at Alanganallur, Avaniapuram, the collection yard, which shall also be a Kokkudi, Palamedu, Periya Suriyur, double barricaded area. The owner or a and Pothamettupatti were not made person authorised by the owner who is out of bounds for people who were not familiar with the bull shall receive the bull bulls’ owners and those familiar with at the collection yard and peg it. Water and their bulls.
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feed shall be provided to the bull. After The rule of ensuring each bull got ensuring adequate rest for the bull adequate rest (a minimum of 20 (minimum of 20 minutes), the bulls shall be minutes) in the collection yard after taken back home by the owners. the run was not observed at any of the seven jallikattu events investigated.
There was no barricade whatsoever for the collection yards at the Kokkudi and Pothamettupatti events. The collection yard at the Kokkudi event was an open swampy ground, devoid of any barricade and filled with ponds, into which several bulls strayed. (2) The bull collection yard shall be provided with roofing (shamiana / thatched roof) so as to protect the bulls from rain or Shamiana or thatched roofing was sunlight. Closed circuit cameras shall be not found in the collection yard at fixed at vantage points in the bull collection any of the events. area and all the activities shall be recorded.
A Veterinary team shall be posted in the No government veterinarians were collection yard so as to provide immediate seen in the collection yard at Kokkudi attention to the bulls that have completed or Panjampatti T. the event. A posse of police personnel shall also be present in the collection area.
9. Miscellaneous
Bulls were physically abused at all seven events. The reluctant, scared, and exhausted animals were hit and jabbed with nail-tipped wooden sticks, (1) The participants shall be put to thorough metal sticks, and metal sickles. They check up by a medical team constituted by were whacked with bare hands and the Collector just before they enter into the kicked. Their tails were bitten and arena. The Collector shall ensure that every twisted, and nose ropes were roughly participant wears an exclusive dress for the yanked to force the bulls to enter the purpose of identification with necessary vaadi vaasal and the arena. identification card. The Collector shall ensure deployment of additional medical Even at the bigger jallikattu events facilities like extra ambulance vehicle, such as those in Alanganallur and serving doctors, veterinarians etc., for Avaniapuram, bulls were being ensuring the safety of the participants as rampantly and brazenly jabbed with well as the bulls. The Collector shall strictly wooden and metal sticks by men ensure that the bulls are not physically perched atop the vaadi vaasals, which abused just before it is released into the were located right next to the VIP arena. Further, the nose rope / face rope of stands, where officials from the the bull should be snapped only by the district administration and the police owner or his representative in the presence department were present. The officials of the authorised officials. turned a blind eye when bulls were poked with sticks and their tails were
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yanked and bitten inside the vaadi vaasal.
Furthermore, because of the rough yanking of nose ropes and the cutting of nose ropes from a height in vaadi vaasals, several bulls’ nostrils were observed and filmed bleeding at multiple events.
The AWBI’s 2018 ‘Guidelines on Conduct of Jallikattu Event’ (issued on 5
January 2018 in letter No 17-1/2017- 18/PCA/CC/JK)
At the Pothamettupatti jallikattu event, there was only a single barricade in vi. (iv) Double-barricading of the arena or the arena. the way through which the bulls pass through in order to avoid injuries to the There was no barricade whatsoever for spectators and by-standers who can be the collection yards at the Kokkudi permitted to remain within the barricades and Pothamettupatti events.
x. (viii) The participants in the event should also enroll their names in advance to the Many onlookers partook in illegal revenue authorities. They should also be put parallel jallikattu in the bull run area to thorough check up by the Physicians as well as inside and outside the available in the medical team and only after collection yards at the Avaniapuram, their certification about the suitability of the Palamedu, Periya Suriyur, and individuals; they should be allowed to Pothamettupatti events. participate in the event.
All the events had narrow vaadi xx. (xviii) The Vadivasal (the entrance) vaasals, which were smaller than the should be 12×15 feet. specified dimensions.
It is appalling that the PCA (Tamil Nadu Amendment) Act, 2017; the Tamil Nadu PCA (Conduct of Jallikattu) Rules, 2017; and the AWBI jallikattu guidelines for 2018 don’t hold the district collectors, jallikattu organisers, or bull abusers accountable or liable for punishment. This loophole in the legislation gives these individuals a free pass to continue abusing bulls and putting humans in harm’s way.
The Tamil Nadu Amendment and Rules and the AWBI’s jallikattu guidelines that were issued on 5 January 2018 are neither adequately followed nor sufficient to prevent the suffering of bulls or injuries to humans. The evidence gathered during the 2020 investigation proves that no regulation can or will protect bulls during jallikattu events.
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V. Other Information
A. Data on Bull and Human Casualties
Disclaimer: The data presented in this report regarding human and bull injuries and deaths is partial because of the following factors.
The information was gathered by PETA India via news reports found through an internet search – therefore, all reports are unlikely to have been found. Not all deaths and injuries are reported in the news. This is particularly the case for human injuries and bull injuries and deaths. Humans and bulls may die after an event is over, in a hospital or elsewhere, and these deaths may not be reported by the media. Occurrences in remote villages may not have been reported by the media sources found by PETA India.
The list of casualties of jallikattu has skyrocketed this year – there have been a shocking number of deaths within a short span (less than two months into jallikattu season).
From January to 9 March 2020 alone, six bulls and 13 humans lost their lives while a bull and 570 humans were reportedly injured in jallikattu events.
In 2019, eight humans, five bulls, and one cow reportedly died in jallikattu events and 597 humans were reportedly injured, including tamers, spectators, bull owners and handlers, police personnel, and villagers. Countless bulls were also injured.
In 2018, 14 humans and six bulls reportedly died in jallikattu events and 364 humans were reportedly injured, including tamers, spectators, bull owners and handlers, police personnel, and villagers. Injuries to bulls were routine at the events.
In 2017, 20 humans and three bulls reportedly died in jallikattu events and 2,046 humans were reportedly injured, including tamers, spectators, bull owners and handlers, police personnel, and villagers. Injuries to bulls were routine at the events.
From 2017 through 9 March 2020, 3,632 humans and 32 bulls were reportedly injured in jallikattu events. In the same period, 57 humans reportedly lost their lives and 22 bulls lost theirs.
Important: The following table shows that more spectators (37) have reportedly been killed than tamers (20) in the past three years, proving that no regulations at jallikattu events would have prevented spectators’ injuries and deaths and that the state made a false promise and created a misleading impression about the safety of the event.
B. Compound Fines No Deterrent for Fox Jallikattu Organisers
This year again, forest officials were unable to prevent villagers in the Salem district from organising their version of jallikattu with a fox they had reportedly caught in the Vazhapadi forest, even though PETA India wrote to the Tamil Nadu chief wildlife warden on 13 January 2020 urging the Forest Department to ensure the superstitious spectacle of fox jallikattu would not be held this
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year. Furthermore, an RTI response (Annexure 2) revealed that from 2014 to 2018, the forest department in Salem only collected “compound fees” from the offenders, meaning that they avoided a potential court trial under sections 9, 51 read with 2(16) of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 (WPA), and section 11(1) of the PCA Act, 1960.
Indian foxes and red foxes, who are found in Tamil Nadu, are protected under Part II of Schedule II of the WPA. Section 9 of the WPA prohibits the hunting of foxes, and Section 2(16) defines the term “hunting”, which includes not only killing or poisoning a wild animal but also capturing, coursing, snaring, trapping, driving, or baiting a wild or captive animal or attempting to do so.
Section 51 details the penalties for contravention of the Act’s provisions, and an offence committed in relation to an animal specified in Part II of Schedule II is punishable with imprisonment for a term of three to seven years and a fine of not less than Rs 10,000. In the case of a second or subsequent offence, the term of imprisonment shall not be less than three years but may extend to seven years, with a fine which shall not be less than Rs 25,000.
Under Section 54 of the WPA, offences committed under the Act may be compounded only when “reasonable suspicion exists”, and further stipulations prohibit the compounding of offences for which a minimum period of punishment has been prescribed in Section 51. However, even though ample physical evidence of the capture, custody, and abuse of foxes is publicly available in various news reports, Forest Department officials have incorrectly compounded these offences and collected compound fees from the offenders over the past few years, avoiding booking the culprits under Section 51 of the Act to face a court trial and potentially be subject to imprisonment and a fine.
This year as well, the Forest Department’s officials reportedly fined the culprits who organised the fox jallikattu, instead of booking them under Sections 9 and 51 read with 2(16) of WPA. Eleven people were each fined Rs 55,000 for catching the fox for jallikattu. A Times of India article titled, “Salem: 11 People Fined Rs 55,000 Each for Catching Fox for Jallikattu”, dated 20 January 2020, stated, “When the district forest officials came to know about this, they booked and fined the 11 people. ‘We have rescued the fox from them and released it in the forest,’ said a forest official. He said people would be arrested under wildlife act if they were to organize ‘fox jallikattu’ in future.”
In 2019, a fox jallikattu event was reportedly held in the village of Chinnamanayakkanpalayam in the Salem district.
The RTI reply revealed that six accused individuals were fined a total compound fee of Rs 65,000 in 2017. It was also reported that Forest Department officials were present at the fox jallikattu event that was held. A Times of India article, dated 19 January 2017 and titled “‘Fox Jallikattu’ Organised in Salem; Forest Officials Watch”, states, “Although foxes come under the Wildlife Protection Act, the event was organised with forest officials watching. The officials tied the animal’s mouth to prevent it from biting the participants.”
The RTI reply revealed that six accused people were fined a total fee of Rs 90,000 in 2018, meaning that each person paid a compound fee of Rs 15,000.
C. Hen Jallikattu for Women
Hen jallikattu is reportedly organised by the Nandhavanam Ilaignyar Narpani Mandram in Nandhavanam near Tiruchengode in Namakkal district. The Hindu printed an article on 17 January 2020 titled “A ‘Jallikattu’ for Women”, which states, “A youth club in Namakkal has been organising a Jallikattu-like event exclusively for women for 10 years and counting. In ‘Navina Jallikattu’, as it is called, it’s not a bull that has to be stopped in its tracks, but a hen.” The president
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of the club reportedly said, “We wanted to have an event exclusively for women, and that’s why we started this. A big circle is drawn, and one of the legs of the hen is tied to either leg of the contestant [using a rope]. The contestants are blindfolded, and should catch the hen without stepping on the rope or going out of the circle.”
Such use of hens is an apparent violation of Section of 3 of the Prevention of Cruelty of Animals Act 1960, that states, “It shall be the duty of every person having the care or charge of any animal to take all reasonable measures to ensure the well-being of such animal and to prevent the infliction upon such animal of unnecessary pain or suffering.” It also amounts to cruelty as per Section 11 of the Prevention of Cruelty of Animals Act 1960, that states, “Treating animals cruelly (1) If any person (a) beats, kicks, over-rides, over-drives, over-loads, tortures or otherwise treats any animal so as to subject it to unnecessary pain or suffering or causes or, being the owner permits, any animal to be so treated;”
D. Health Minister Asks Organisers to Avoid Making Bulls Wait for Hours
At a meeting reportedly held in Pudukottai between the Jallikattu Peravai and Tamil Nadu Health Minister C Vijayabaskar on 15 December 2019, the minister suggested that jallikattu organisers should avoid making bulls wait for hours in queues before entering the jallikattu arena through the vaadi vaasal. A Times of India article titled “Avoid Making Bulls Wait in Queues for Hours: Health Minister” from 16 December 2019, states, “Jallikattu bulls are brought to the venue on the previous day from midnight and made to wait in queues. When many bulls get to enter the Vadivasal in the afternoon, what is the need to make them wait the whole day, asked the health minister.”
At larger jallikattu events, such as those held in Alanganallur, Avaniapuram, and Palamedu, bulls are forced to stand in queues starting on the night prior to the event, and they’re forced to participate in jallikattu the next day after becoming tired from spending hours in queues, with little or no drinking water or feed.
E. PIL Against the Use of Foreign Bulls’ Species in Jallikattu
On 7 February 2020, the Honourable Madras High Court reportedly reserved its orders on a public interest litigation (PIL) petition filed to prohibit the participation of foreign breeds of bulls and crossbreeds of bulls in rural bull-related sports such as jallikattu, manju virattu, oormadu, vadamadu, vandamanjuvirattu, and erudhu viduthal. An article in The Hindu dated 8 February 2020, titled “Case Against Use of Foreign Species in Jallikattu”, reports that the petitioner of the PIL claimed that only native species should be allowed to participate in the aforementioned sports.
The petitioner claimed that jallikattu is suitable for bulls of native breeds but not for imported breed bulls or hybrid bulls. In his petition, he asked the court to pass an injunction restraining respondents, including the state government, from permitting any foreign breeds or mixed breeds to participate in the aforementioned sports. In his petition, he stated, “Recently people entering bulls started using bulls of imported species of cattle and hybrid bulls created by cross, native cattle with imported cattle in Jallikattu. I have come to know that bulls have been awarded the best bull award in Alanganallur – Jallikattu last year (January 2019) and this year (January 2020)” and “Further these bulls are temperamentally and psychologically different from native breeds and are dangerous to players who participate in Jallikattu. They have the tendency to trample and crush players on the field.”
The PCA (Tamil Nadu Amendment) Act, 2017, went into effect on 31 January 2017. This Tamil Nadu state law amended the PCA Act, 1960, and claimed to “preserve the cultural heritage of the
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State of Tamil Nadu and to ensure the survival and wellbeing of the native breeds of bulls”. The state government devised the corresponding rules, namely, the Tamil Nadu PCA (Conduct of Jallikattu) Rules, 2017, regarding the conduct of jallikattu events. If jallikattu was legalised to ensure the survival of native breeds, why are bulls of foreign breeds forced to participate?
F. Plea to Quash the Government Order That Notified Jallikattu
The media reported that the Honourable Madras High Court has sought a response from the state on a plea challenging a Tamil Nadu state government order (GO) notifying the conduct of jallikattu at Srivaikuntam taluk in Tuticorin district. A Times of India article dated 18 February 2020 and titled “Madurai: Plea Against GO Notifying Conduct of Jallikattu”, says, “In his petition, deputy secretary of Anaithu Viyabarigal Sangam at Srivaikundam, M Balasubramanian stated that the government had brought an amendment in the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, in order to permit jallikattu which is part of the tradition and culture in Tamil Nadu. He stated that jallikattu is unknown to the people of Srivaikuntam as it was not conducted there in the past. No one is rearing bulls for the purpose of jallikattu in Srivaikuntam and it has not been organised during any temple festivals.”
The article further stated, “Srivaikuntam had witnessed several communal tensions in the past and apprehended that the conduct of jallikattu would cause communal tension in the area. He noted that the panchayat presidents of 15 villages have sent a representation to the authorities against granting permission to conduct jallikattu.”
The petitioner reportedly asked the Madras High Court’s Madurai Bench to quash the GO which was passed notifying the conduct of jallikattu and also sought for the authorities concerned not to grant permission for jallikattu to be held at Srivaikuntam.
G. News Reports Regarding Cruelty to Animals and Casualties
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VI. Discussion and Conclusion
The findings of the 2020 investigation include rampant cruelty to bulls, such as deliberately placing them in terrifying situations, twisting and biting their tails, stabbing and jabbing them with sickles and other weapons, hitting and jumping on them, tackling them, forcing dehydrated and exhausted bulls who had collapsed to participate, hitting bulls with bare hands, and denying them basic necessities, including shade, water, and feed.
From January to 9 March 2020 alone, 570 humans were reportedly injured, at least 13 humans died, and at least six bulls died.
The district collectors, jallikattu committees, bull tamers, police, and spectators failed miserably to ensure that state laws were obeyed, adding to the pain and suffering inherent in jallikattu events.
Since The PCA (Tamil Nadu Amendment) Act, 2017, gives a blanket exemption for jallikattu events under the PCA Act, 1960, and the Tamil Nadu PCA (Conduct of Jallikattu) Rules, 2017, prescribes a punishment for treating animals cruelly that bars people from participating further in the event, those who abuse bulls during these events get off scot-free as most often offenders are not punished at the events. No fines or jail time are prescribed in order to penalise or deter violators. That gives these people, including the organisers who fail to ensure adherence to the rules, a free pass to violate them.
PETA India’s investigation this year has also proved that no amount of regulation can eliminate cruelty during jallikattu, as the very purpose of the spectacle is to terrify, tame, and taunt bulls and to subject them to immense physical and mental trauma. The investigation into these seven jallikattu events shows that the regulations in The PCA (Tamil Nadu Amendment) Act, 2017, and The Tamil Nadu PCA (Conduct of Jallikattu) Rules, 2017, as well as the conduct of jallikattu guidelines issued by the AWBI on 5 January 2018 are impractical and thus bound to be violated.
The interim orders and guidelines issued by the Supreme Court of India since 2008 were brazenly flouted at all jallikattu events which were previously inspected by the AWBI, and even those guidelines which were followed were not sufficient to prevent the suffering of animals or injuries to humans. The statistics shared by the AWBI show that as many as 43 people died during jallikattu events between 2008 and 2014. At least four bulls also died during that period. The evidence gathered during those AWBI inspections proved that no regulation can or will protect bulls from misery. That’s why, through its 2014 judgment, the Honourable Supreme Court banned jallikattu and stated that when culture and tradition are at variance with the law enacted by Parliament, the law will take precedence.
There is so much more to the Pongal festival than taunting bulls – including praying and singing, garlanding and decorating bulls, eating sweets, providing God with offerings, and doing charitable deeds. The purpose of the festival is to give thanks to nature for the harvest, and that’s not something that can be achieved by tormenting bulls and causing injury and death to them and humans.
Animal torture is not something to regulate – and regulations can’t negate the fundamental cruelty of deliberately tormenting bulls. Many peer-reviewed papers demonstrate a link between the actions of humans and the fear, distress, and pain experienced by other species. Research has shown that handling animals roughly or abusively compromises their welfare and increases
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their fear of humans. Bulls who are pushed, hit, prodded, or otherwise abused during jallikattu suffer mentally as well as physically. The ban imposed by the Supreme Court of India must be continued in order to prevent bulls from enduring cruelty and dying as well as to protect humans from being hurt and killed.
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