Tuesday, Jun 21, 2005
Tuesday, Jun 21, 2005 |
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Staff Reporter
BANGALORE: Members of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) on Monday alleged that illegal hunting of several species of animals that are protected under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, is going on in the Western Ghats, near Mangalore. At a press conference here, PETA activists screened video footage of soft-shelled turtles, civet cats and hares being killed in the Western Ghats for their meat.
To draw Govt.'s attention
PETA campaign coordinator (Legal), N.G. Jayasimha, told presspersons that the organisation wants to draw the attention of the Government and people to the illegal hunting. Mr. Jayasimha said copies of the footage have been sent to the Ministers of Environment and Forests in the State and at the Centre, the Animal Welfare Board of India and the Secretary, Environment and Forests, Government of India. "We are trying to create awareness about illegal hunting and appeal to the Government to assist us in this endeavour," he said.
Gruesome scenes
The video recording shows soft-shelled turtles captured and put in plastic bags, then cut out of their shells and cut open to show the heart still beating. It also shows hunters breaking the necks of turtles with their teeth. Civet cats are shot at night when they are out looking for food. The video shows hares in pain after being shot and the animals tied by their hind legs so close together that they bite each other in panic. Then they are skinned and eaten. "All these acts are not only illegal, gruesome and cruel but also affect the delicately balanced biosphere of the protected forest areas," he said.
`Hunting on the rise'
PETA campaign coordinator (Vegetarian), Sneha Singh, said hunting for trade and sport are on the rise despite laws prohibiting it. "But these animals were not hunted for game or trade. They were shot for private consumption by locals living in the Western Ghats," she said. Ms. Singh added that the Western Ghats is one of the two areas (the other being the eastern Himalayas) recognised as biodiversity hotspots in India among 18 around the world.
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