The animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA – India) has rightly and timely taken up the issue of two elephants. I think all animal loving persons should stand up in support of PETA in this regard.
PETA has objected to the Indian government’s plan to send two elephants from the country’s zoos to Turkmenistan as part of an animal exchange programme. Its objections stem from the fact that the proposal is a clear violation of a Central Zoo Authority (CZA) November 2009 directive, which provides that all elephants presently confined to zoos would be shifted to camps, tiger reserves or forest department facilities at national parks. The CZA had issued the directive taking into account the danger that elephants pose to the public and their miserable living conditions in zoos.
Minister of Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh had announced the animal exchange proposal recently.
PETA is of the view that this abhorrent breach of both spirit and the letter of CZA directive will sentence these two elephants, who have suffered in zoos for years, to a continued life of loneliness and misery. What is more shocking is that the government would allow this programme that would be illegal in India to occur elsewhere, PETA argues.
The CZA also expressed concern over the lack of adequate space to allow free movement of elephants and the stress that is caused to these highly intelligent and social animals after being chained for long hours.
Let us support PETA.
