Last Indian circus using elephants for shows loses recognition, due to tireless services of OIPA
It may no longer be possible to watch elephants in a circus in India as Great Golden Circus, the only circus in the country now to use the gentle giants, has been de-recognised by the authorities concerned.
Preserve your fond childhood memories of watching elephants in a live circus playing football, dancing cutely or disarmingly performing little tricks. It may no longer be possible to watch elephants in a circus in India as Great Golden Circus, the only circus in the country now to use the gentle giants, has been de-recognised by the authorities concerned.
Due to allegations of ill-treatment to animals like elephants and a variety of other reasons, circuses once a prominent mode of entertainment have been fading into oblivion and the final curtain has now been drawn down in the case of circus elephants.
Due to long standing allegations of circus animals being ill-treated and kept in captivity without proper care, the government had made it mandatory to obtain licences to use elephants. Though use of bears, monkeys, tigers, panthers, and lions as performing animals was banned in 1998, use of elephants for performance was allowed, subject to conditions on their upkeep. For that purpose, elephants were grouped along with horses, camels, dogs, and birds.
Due to constant monitoring by watchdog organisations like OIPA: Indian People for Animals with the Scouts and Guides for Animals and Birds, violations have been brought to the notice of the authorities concerned and this resulted in cancellation of permissions on a case-to-case basis. In the process, the Ahmedabad-based Great Golden Circus was left as the only one to have a valid permission to use elephants for performance.
Over a period of time, allegations came up about Great Golden Circus not complying with regulations and not even filing monthly compliance reports. As actions by the Central Zoo Authority (CZA) intensified, the proprietor of the circus pleaded that lack of funds prevented provision of specific veterinary care to elephants. Interestingly, the proprietor of the circus also suggested that the recognition provided to Great Golden Circus may be cancelled, according to the Central Zoo Authority.
Recognition as a “captive animal facility” by the CZA is mandatory for any circus in India that wants to keep and use wild animals, including elephants protected under the Wildlife Protection Act (WPA), 1972 for performances.
After considering the charges against Great Golden Circus and the submissions of the proprietor of the circus, the CZA’s technical committee, at its 98th meeting in November, recommended cancelling the recognition of the circus for violation of norms.
Naresh Kadyan, Master Trainer awardee of AWBI.