Another death at UP circus, owner ignores Act

Another death at UP circus, owner ignores Act
R.B. SINGH

LUCKNOW, NOV 22: The pathetic conditions in Empire Circus, at present touring Allahabad, have claimed the life of another animal, a six-month-old African lion cub. Besides, an African lioness and a tiger cub are reportedly on the verge of death.

Just a fortnight ago, a four-year-old Royal Bengal tigress had died in the circus. Samples of the organs of the tigress had been sent to the Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Bareilly, for examination. The Chief Wildlife Warden of the state, R.L. Singh, is still awaiting the report of the institute. After going through the institute report and the postmortem findings of Lucknow zoo doctors, he was to decide punishment.

Under the Wildlife Act, a circus owner can be jailed for seven years and his licence cancelled for negligence in cases like this. But even before the government could take any action, reports have come of one more death at the same circus.

The lion cub, suffering from fever and paralysis, apparently died on November 13, but the circus management kept it hidden from Chief Wildlife Warden Singh. Under the Wildlife Act, it is mandatory for the circus management to inform the chief wildlife warden about any death or birth within 24 hours.

Also, under the Act, the postmortem of the cub should have been conducted under the supervision of at least two senior experts having experience of treating wild animals, according to Lucknow Zoo Director Paramjit Singh said. But, in this case, the circus management approached government veterinarian Sanjay Sharma of Allahabad, who along with a forest official conducted the postmortem. Later, the cub's body was burnt by the management in a hurry.

Earlier, on receiving information about the death of the Royal Bengal tigress on November 7, Singh had asked circus manager K.J. Menon to send the body to the Lucknow zoo for a postmortem. The zoo veterinarians, Dr Utkarsh Shukla and Ashok Kashyap, had found that the animal was not only suffering from tuberculosis but also paralysis. Its liver was also found to be completely damaged.

Speaking to The Indian Express, Lucknow Zoo Director Paramjit Singh said the tigress's condition had indicated that it had not received any treatment for the past three years. It may have been last shown to a vet in June or July 1997, he added.

The lion cub who just died was among the seven born when the circus was running at Rampur. The circus manager had then applied for possession certificate to R.L. Singh, but was refused one on the ground that information about the birth of the cubs had been given to him much after the mandatory one-month period. He had instead ordered the circus management to hand over the four tiger and three lion cubs to the Lucknow Zoo.

When the zoo director had insisted that the mothers of the cubs also be handed over so that the latter could be fed, it was decided that the cubs would remain with the circus for two years but would not be used during any shows. But the circus management apparently ignored even that directive.

In May 1998, the Delhi High Court had directed all private mobile zoos to surrender their animals to the chief wildlife wardens of their respective states. Many mobile zoos had abided by the court order, but the circus managements had moved the apex court for a stay. The court had granted them a stay on the condition that they would not employ the animals in their possession for shows. But not only are the animals still being used, as the authorities work out modalities to rehabiliate them, but obviously paying with their lives for it.