PETA demands immediate ban on Jallikattu

Animal rights group PETA today demanded an immediate ban on Jallikattu, a bull taming sport played in Tamil Nadu, while releasing an investigation report which the group said showed the "cruel" face of the game. PETA India said their investigation had found that the bulls which participated in Jallikattu were subjected to "extreme cruelty" and "unmitigated suffering" despite regulation prohibiting such acts. "The findings of this investigation clearly show that extreme cruelty and unmitigated suffering is inherent in Jallikattu, despite regulation, since the objective of the game is to deliberately terrorise the bulls," Bhuvaneshwari Gupta, Campaign coordinator of PETA India said. Last year PETA (People for Ethical Treatment of Animals) had staged a demonstration in London demanding a complete ban on Jallikattu, considered to be the Indian version of bull running sport that takes place every year in Spanish city of Pamplona. PETA said their investigation in Tamil Nadu was authorised by the Animal Welfare Board of India. Gupta said PETA India investigators witnessed Jallikattu held at Avaniapuram, Palamedu and Alanganallur in Madurai on January 14, 15 and 16 this year and collected video and photographic evidence of bulls being deliberately "taunted, tormented, mutilated, stabbed, beaten, chased and denied even their most basic food and water needs". Every year, scores of humans are also injured during Jallikattu, some fatally. The bull taming sport is organised as part of Pongal celebration. "PETA's position is that Jallikattu must be banned immediately. Jallikattu must be banned under Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, which prohibits causing any injury to animal," Gupta said. PETA also released video footage and photos captured by its team during its investigation. "The video footage and photographs obtained by PETA document rampant violations of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 (PCA), the Tamil Nadu Regulation of Jallikattu Act, 2009, and Supreme Court and Madurai High Court guidelines regarding Jallikattu," said Gupta. The PCA prohibits beating, kicking and torturing animals and treating any animal so as to subject it to unnecessary pain or suffering, she said. Gupta alleged several cruel tactics are used to cause intense pain in bulls to force the reluctant animals to charge out and appear aggressive. "Even policemen in uniform were seen hitting and poking scared bulls instead of stopping the cruel actions of the organisers," she claimed. The Supreme Court in December last year had refused to stay Jallikattu.