Two Exotic Birds Used By Circus Company Without Permit Seized

Based on the complaint lodged by the founder of an animal rights organisation People for Cattle in India (PFCI), the proprietor of the company was booked.

Days after Coimbatore police registered a case against a circus company over cruelty to animals, the city police seized two exotic birds from a circus company as it did not have a permit from Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI). On Tuesday, two yellow-crested cockatoos birds were seized. They were then taken to WVS International Training Centre in Nilgiris. 

The police said, as per the report of a veterinarian of the Animal Husbandry Department the company had not maintained a performing animals registration certificate (PARC) for the two cockatoos.

Based on the complaint lodged by the founder of an animal rights organisation People for Cattle in India (PFCI), the proprietor of the company was booked.

According to IANS, the action was taken based on a complaint by animal rights activist Arun Prasanna. G. 

The complainant said that during the circus show at Coimbatore VOC Grounds seven dogs, two cockatoos, one macaw and three African grey parrots were used. 

He said that the animals were used for the show at 7 PM but before the beginning of the show, the birds were clipped. 

According to him, the dogs and birds were also made to do tricks in front of the crowd and were in considerable anguish because this was against their normal habit.

He said that in order to utilise animals and birds in circuses, the circus firm had to seek a certificate from the Animal Welfare Board of India under the Performing Animals (Registration) Rules 2001. 

Prasanna said, the circus firm had a dog certificate issued in 2010. He said that the license for using birds was obtained in 2004.