To, SHRI ANIL MADHAV DAVE Honorable Minister; Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change 4th Floor, Aakash Block, Indira Paryavaran Bhawan, New Delhi - 110003 Phone- 24695136, 24695132, 24695127, Fax - 24695329 Email – [email protected] Subject: appeal to legislate against use of animals in circuses Dear Sir, We are writing in our capacity as advocatesand activists for the rights of animals. We are supporters of the End Circus Suffering campaign, which is anchored by the Federation of Indian Animal Protection Organisations (FIAPO), whose aim is to end animals from being abused in circuses across the country. My organization, Life Conservationist Association, along with numerous national and international partners are witness to the fact that institutionalized cruelty to animals in circuses worldwide is often unnoticed and even accepted as normal. We are informed that hundreds of animals and birds are condemned to a life of torture in the 53 circuses in India. This makes them no different from the barbaric sports of the Middle Ages which are now condemned by civilized society. Animal circuses are also the epicenter of wildlife trafficking; illegal trade in animals and animal parts; illegal breeding; poaching; and human trafficking. Therefore, it is to be noted that there is widespread awareness of the illegal and unethical treatment of animals in circuses in the civil society, local governments which have facilitated the rescue of more than 160 animals, and the judiciary which has repeatedly rules in favor of rehabilitation of circus animals. Many circuses have also voluntarily given up their animals to be rehabilitated after recognizing the futility of keeping animals to draw audience. Teaching animals to perform inappropriate tricks portrays them to the public in a humiliating manner, instead of showing their natural grace and beauty. Circuses desensitize the society, particularly young children, to animal abuse in the name of entertainment. This messaging is at complete odds with the high values of compassion and India’s culture prescribes. End Circus Sufferingaims to bring an end to cruelty to animals in circuses. FIAPO works with partner organisations all over the countrytowards this goal. We, the undersigned, support the campaign and endorse the complete ban on using animals for entertainment in circuses. However, the cruel practice of torturing animals for human entertainment continues in circuses due to the lack of effective legislation prohibiting the same. Repeated violation of existing rules by circuses proves that nothing short of a ban will free the animals from this form of institutional abuse. Therefore, I strongly urge you to prohibit the use of animals in circuses and uphold the high standards of compassion and equality that are prescribed in the Indian constitution. Thank you

yours truly, SHIH, JIAN-AN Chairman of Life Conservationist Association Taiwan

尊重地球上的生命夥伴

以關懷動物為關懷生命的起點

10467 台北市中山區民生東路 2 段 120 號 3 樓 Tel：(02)2542-0959 Fax：(02)2562-0686

Http：//www.lca.org.tw mail：[email protected]