The research, commissioned by the World Society for Protection of Animals (WSPA) and undertaken by prominent research agencies GlobeScan and TNS Global, shows that 73 per cent of Indians think the treatment of animals is "a serious challenge in our society."
The study was unveiled at an event in which WSPA launched its campaign for animal protection in India.
The statistics, prepared after a two-phase survey with a nationally representative sample of 500 adults each, highlight just how strongly Indians believe that animals need protection.
"87 per cent of Indians agree that animals have as many rights as people