(a) Whether the living condition of animals in various circus is deteriorating
and the animals perform under cruel treatment till they followed the
instructions ; and
(b) If so, the details of guidelines issued by the Government to the circus
owners in this regard ?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF
ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS (SHRI BABU LAL MARANDI)
(a) Yes, Sir.
(b) Ministry of Social Justice and Environment has issued a notification dated
14.10.1998 in exercise of the powers conferred by section 22 of the Prevention
of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 by which Bears, Monkeys, Tigers, Panthers
and Lions shall not be exhibited or trained as performing animals with effect
from the date of publication of said notification. Further, pursuant to the order
dated 6.6.2000 passed by the High Court of Kerala in O.P. No. 155/99 and
other connected case r elated to circuses, all Chief Wildlife Wardnes have been
asked to be in r eadiness to take possession of the animals surrendered by the
circuses. For this purpose Government of India has set up five rehabilitation
centres for animals at Tirupati, Visakhapattanam, Banglore, Jaipur and Vandalur
(Chennai).