Rescue hippos from all circuses: Maneka Gandhi

NAGPUR: Animal rights activist and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP from Pilibhit Maneka Gandhi has asked the Central Zoo Authority (CZA), a statutory body under the ministry of environment and forests (MoEF), to remove all hippos from circuses and put them in zoos or rescue centres.

The hippos in all the circuses are blind. Obviously they are being blinded to make them more amenable. Earlier, one blind hippo from a circus was rescued. Another died in Jumbo Circus and now the one in Amar Circus is third.

According to Dr BK Gupta, evaluation and monitoring officer with CZA, there are only three hippos on display in circuses.

Gandhi, in a letter to CZA member-secretary BS Bonal, suggested to constitute a committee either by the CZA or the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) and seek a report of all animals in the circuses. The circus animals continue to be abused, ill-treated and killed very often.

The MP said that CZA should re-examine registration of all performing animals since beginning till date and rescue all abused animals cancelling their registration.

"Registration of all hippos, docked tailed dogs, feather chopped birds be cancelled. These animals should be rescued and rehabilitated by July 25, 2012. Besides, registration of all elephants as performing animals may also be cancelled," Gandhi said.

She has also suggested to introduce fixed retirement and rehabilitation of performing animals and birds.

http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-06-26/flora-fauna/32424013_1_hippos-cza-circuses