42 pigs rescued in daring night chase

http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-01-12/goa/36296108_1_pigs-animal-rescue-squad-transport

MAPUSA: About 42 pigs being illegally transported to Goa from Belgaum in a pickup were rescued near Mapusa by two animal welfare activists in a daring mission at 1.30am on Thursday.

Having received a tip-off, John Fernandes and Mahadev Mestri of the Animal Rescue Squad set off on a motorbike for the 'Goa-Mumbai' NH 17, looking for a Karnataka-registered vehicle.

Near Hotel Green Park they saw the pickup heading towards Panaji and heard the grunting of pigs. Following the vehicle, they got it to stop by stopping their own motorbike right in front of it.

"We asked the driver for the permit to transport the pigs. He didn't have one and instead offered us a bribe," claimed Fernandes.

The duo called the police who arrested the driver and the two helpers-all Karnataka natives-and rescued the pigs. Sources said the pigs were headed to a slaughterhouse in Saligao.

Describing the "horrid" conditions under which the pigs were being transported, Fernandes said, "The pickup was divided into two sections and the upper section alone had 25 pigs. The condition was unhygienic and so crammed that one pig had died during the journey."

He stressed that the law does not permit the carrying of so many pigs in such constrained conditions.

Police sources corroborated this, saying the transportation was in violation of provisions of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, the Transport of Animals Rules, 1978, and the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

"The law requires that those transporting pigs should have a licence to do so. It is also illegal to transport pigs in a vehicle that has not been properly constructed to carry them," an animal activist later explained.

The arrested trio are under police custody.

'Mining taking heavy toll on Goa's wildlife'

http://zeenews.india.com/news/eco-news/mining-taking-heavy-toll-on-goa-s-wildlife_808492.html

Panaji: Incessant digging that had been taking place around Goa's forests in search for iron ore has taken a heavy toll on wild animals and other species, according to environmentalists. 

Rock pythons and king cobras have been found dead in these areas, where rare species of reptiles and birds had to bear the brunt of rampant mining activity, animal rescue organisations and environmentalists in the state have said. 

"We have rescued hungry and unhealthy pythons from the villages located near mining leases in Bicholim taluka. Rare reptiles like king cobra were lying crushed under stones," Amrut Singh, founder, Animal Rescue Squad (ARS), told. 

Singh's voluntary group, with more than 100 volunteers trained to rescue snakes and wild animals, receive regular distress calls from people living on periphery of mines. "King cobra, russell viper, saw scaled vipers are often rescued from homes adjacent to the mining leases in Bicholim," he said. 

Bicholim, an iron-ore rich belt, is nestled in the foothills of the Western Ghats. The eco-sensitive area houses nearly 70 per cent of birds and reptiles found in the Ghats. 

Singh recalls how decades back flying snakes were sighted in the area, which now stands devastated in search of iron ore that is exported to China. "Some snake species are on verge of extinction. Ceylon cat, beddome's cat and ornate cake snakes, found in abundance early, are rarely sighted." 

Bicholim locals have reported an unusual phenomenon -- crocodiles being sighted on busy streets during night. An ARS volunteer explained that since marshy areas in the river bed are getting silted with iron ore and mud, the crocodiles venture out to find new water bodies. 

A little further from Bicholim, in remote Sattari taluka, is Gavane, a village tucked between three wildlife sanctuaries, which has seen several Indian bison, Goa's state animal, found dead in mining pits. 

Environmentalist Rajendra Kerkar said on many occasions, bison, the largest bovine of India, had been spotted lying in the mining pits. 

PTI 

'Infirmary for animal care not appointed under Cruelty Act'

http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-08-10/goa/33136654_1_animal-care-infirmary-high-court

PANAJI: The state government could have avoided the liability it suffered in the bulls' medical bill payment case had it appointed infirmaries for the treatment and care of animals. The latter is a requirement under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960.

Section 35 (1) of the Act empowers the government to appoint infirmaries for the treatment and care of animals. Section 35 (4) of the Act provides that the cost of transporting the animal to an infirmary, and its maintenance and treatment at the infirmary, shall be payable by the owner of the animal in accordance with the scale of rates to be prescribed by a district magistrate.

In the case between the government and the cattle owner, in the case involving nine rescued bulls, the additional sessions court at Margao had referred to these sections of the Act.

The court held that "in such a case strict compliance of the aforesaid provisions of law is warranted and the cost of treatment of the bulls can be obtained from the owner only if the said bulls are kept in a government-appointed infirmary and further if the cost of treatment is in accordance with the scale of rates prescribed by the district magistrate/commissioner of police".

Dealing with this aspect, the high court of Bombay at Goa, hearing an aggrieved government, held that the additional sessions court is right in holding that the intervener (PAWS) was not appointed as an infirmary by the state government in terms of Section 35 (1), as the government neither produced any notification before the sessions court nor before the high court.

The high court also observed that the government has not been able to point out any notification issued by the district magistrate in terms of Section 35 (4) of the Act mentioning the costs of maintenance and treatment in an infirmary.

No more animal slaughter in unhygienic conditions: CM

http://zeenews.india.com/news/goa/no-more-animal-slaughter-in-unhygienic-conditions-cm_792029.html

Panaji: Goa Chief minister Manohar Parrikar today assured crackdown on illegal slaughter houses in the state, which are run in unhygienic conditions and also vowed to protect animal rights. 

Parrikar said the state government will work out a mechanism to ensure that there is no cruelty to animals, which are taken up for butchering. "We cannot stop slaughtering because there is a demand for meat. This is a very sensitive topic," he said. 

The chief minister, however, said that the state government will discourage the practice of butchering animals anywhere in the state in unhygienic conditions.

He said that the slaughter houses run by the state government too were in dismal state. The issue was raised on the floor of the House by BJP legislator Vishnu Surya Wagh, who demanded to stop cruelty animals. 

Bull-fights in Goa to become history

http://zeenews.india.com/news/goa/bull-fights-in-goa-to-become-history_723968.html

Panaji: With the Environment Ministry banning use of bulls as performing animals, several traditional games, including bull-fights in Goa, will now become a part of history.

In fact, bull-fights in the state have already been banned by the Bombay High Court in 1996, even though they are illegally being held at some places in the state.

The MoEF notification will also cease political attempts in Goa to revive bull fights, which are enjoyed in the coastal taluka of Salcette. 

Animal rights organisation Federation of Indian Animal Protection Organisations (FIAPO) has welcomed the move.

MoEF issued the notification on July 11, 2011, which added bull in the list of animals including bear, monkey, tiger, panther and lion that cannot be trained or used as a performing animal under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act of 1960.

Bull-fights were popular in Goa's coastal belt before they were banned by the Bombay High Court in 1996. The court had cited cruelty to animals as the reason for the ban. However, bull fights continue to be held at some places illegally.

Goa Legislative Assembly had moved a Bill in 2009 to legalise bull fights, which could not get assent of the Governor.

MP Fransisco Sardinha had also tried to move an amendment in the Prevention of Cruelty to Animal Act in 2009 to legalise bull fighting. But the attempt was opposed by many including former Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh. 

The recent notification, however, is supported by FIAPO, which is an umbrella organisation of animal welfare groups in India.

"Bulls now cannot be made to perform in events like Jallikattu and Rekla races in south India and the Dhirio of Goa and in any form of cinematography," said Dr Chinny Krishna, the chairman of FIAPO.

He said this is a landmark development for bulls and we compliment the ministry for this initiative.

"Hundreds of bulls are tortured in barbaric events like Jallikattu and Rekla races in south India and the Dhirio of Goa. With this notification, bulls are to be considered performing animals for the purpose of such events," he said.

FIAPO has said that bulls in various parts of the country are routinely exploited and abused for races and other forms of performance.

"They are made to take part in cruel cart races in villages and towns across the country. Most of these races typically inflict pain and suffering on the animals," Krishna said.

He said FIAPO and its member organisations have often received complaints that during these races, the cart drivers poke the animals in their sensitive parts with nails and sticks, whip them mercilessly and even drug them with alcohol, all in order to make them run faster than the other.

"Every year, in certain districts of Tamil Nadu, people chase and taunt bulls for fun in a cruel "game" called Jallikattu. During these events, large groups of men and boys throw themselves on top of a bull in an effort to 'tame' him and grab a prize," he said.

My take

Bull fights are called dhirio in the local language. The fight is between two bulls who are aggravated by owners and the spectators. Not only the bulls but the spectators are also known to get harmed. Such events also promote gambling and betting on a large scale. The promoters always put forward a defense stating that it is a traditional sport. The local politicians organize and promote these events with the hope of winning votes from the people. 

Kudos to the Ministry of Environment and Forest! This notification comes in as a huge relief for the activists and countless bulls which are tortured and killed in the name of ‘tradition’.