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Say no to tortured circus animals

Animals in circuses are a tortured lot. So do something, says PETA

ALL FOR ANIMALS Shilpa Shetty in the new PETA campaign

Shilpa Shetty figures in the latest ad for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). Clad in a striped bodysuit with a look of despair on her face, she crouches inside a small cage. The idea is to bring to people's notice the misery faced by animals that are used so extensively in circuses.

Shot by ace photographer Atul Kasbekar, the ad encourages people to boycott circuses with animal acts. It features the tagline "Beaten, Lonely and Abused - Boycott the Circus."

Shilpa is reminding everyone who might be tempted to go to a circus that animals in circuses are sorely abused, often inadequately fed, and routinely hit with whips and rods and even electric shock pods to make them obey commands for a few moments of unenlightened public amusement.

Circuses portray a distorted view of wildlife. The lives of animals who are forced to perform repetitious, confusing and often painful tricks are miserable. Animals do not naturally ride bicycles, stand on their heads or jump through rings of fire. Circus animals work based on fear, knowing they will be hurt badly if they do not obey. Even the animals' access to basic necessities such as clean water, sufficient food and vital veterinary care is often ignored or severely limited. "By no means was I comfortable during the photo shoot crouched in that small cage", explains Shilpa Shetty, a long time PETA supporter. "But what were a few fleeting moments of discomfort for me compared to what life must be like for the precious animals held captive in the circus?" Using bears, monkeys, tigers, panthers and lions in circuses is not only cruel, it is also in violation of a 1998 Central Government notification, which was upheld in May 2001 by the Supreme Court. The notification specifically bans circus owners from training or exhibiting the five named species, yet circuses throughout India continue to display these animals in direct contravention of the law.

Several countries across the globe have restricted or banned the use of animals in entertainment.If they can do it why can't India, is the question being asked by PETA here. PETA India's new program called petaDishoom, gives young people a fun foundation to help "dishoom" animal abuse by letting them know what their favourite stars are doing to help animals; it offers them incentives and resources to help animals in distress.

For more details visit www.petaDishoom.com.

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