Animal Exploitation: Forms of Exploitation

Under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, all practices leading to animal exploitation are illegal. However, these practices still abound in various parts of India, with animals being treated as commodities rather than living creatures.

Forms of Animal Exploitation in India

Animal India faces exploitation in many ways including:

Cock Fighting: Cocks raised for fighting are kept enclosed in cages. They are frequently tortured to make them more aggressive. The owners of birds often tie sharp razors to their legs to make the fight more entertaining. This leads to fatal injuries and blood loss causing death of the bird. Even severely injured birds are not spared, and are made to fight again.

Bullock Racing: Bullocks are made to take part in brutal cart races across the country. Most drivers carry out cruel acts, such as poking a bullock with nails, whipping it and drugging it with alcohol. All these activities are carried out to make the animal run faster. However, this results in pain and suffering to the poor animal.

Snake Charmers: Snake charmers enclose their snakes in small boxes or are tied in a bag. The teeth of a snake are pulled out, its poisonous ducts pricked with heated needles and some even have their mouth sewed permanently. Snake charmers often starve them to death. During worship rituals, snakes are fed with milk and poisonous tikkas are applied on them, leading to allergic reactions and blindness. Snakes are also exploited for making leather and for research purposes. 

Animal Exploitation: How You Can Help?

As a responsible citizen, you can prevent animal exploitation in the following ways:

• Write letters to local newspapers urging them not to support cruel activities.
• If you witness such incidents, inform your local Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) or call the police or forest department.