PETA India, the global animal rights organisation, has released an investigative report of the abuse faced by bulls used in Tamil Nadu’s annual jallikattu festivities. On Monday, PETA published a 75-page report with visuals from Madurai, Pudukkottai, Dindigul, and Tiruppur districts of Tamil Nadu, detailing what its activists had witnessed first-hand in January this year. 2019 marks the second year that the jallikattu has taken place legally in the state, after a massive protest in 2017 saw the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act (1960) amended to ‘preserve the cultural heritage’ of the state.
The organisation has alleged extreme cruelty to animals as well as disregard for human life. Visuals from Avaniapuram, Palamedu, Keelapanaiyur, Viralimalai, Ulagampatti, Alagumalai and the famous Alanganallur jallikattu show the bulls collapsing in exhaustion and being dragged and pulled by nose ropes. The bull-taming event involves bulls being brought through the vaadi vaasal or the entrance. They will then enter the main arena where the tamers will attempt to tame them and emerge victorious. Visuals released by PETA from this jallikattu season show the tails of bulls being bitten, reportedly in order to provoke them to enter the vaadi vaasal. “Reluctant, scared, and exhausted bulls were poked and hit with wooden sticks and metal spears, whacked with bare hands, and blindfolded, and their tails were twisted, yanked, and bitten while they were in the waiting area in order to force them to enter the vaadi vaasal.” states the report.
‘Amended rules not followed’
PETA India says that photographic evidence from the jallikattu events show bulls’ nostrils bleeding even as they are led forward with nose ropes. While the amended rules from 2017 mandate that jallikattu be conducted in an open ground, PETA alleges that the events were conducted in the middle of towns or villages on narrow public roads. Similarly, the rules provide for 20 minutes rest for the bulls before they are brought into the arena. PETA says none of the events followed this protocol. “In the events at Viralimalai, Avaniapuram, and Alanganallur, the bulls were kept in queues by squeezing them in sideways. At large events like Avaniapuram, Palamedu, Alanganallur, and Viralimalai, bulls were forced to stand beginning the evening before the event and made to wait this way up to 16 hours.” the report reads.
Slamming the government’s Animal Husbandry Department whose veterinarians are required by law to compulsorily examine the bulls, the report says that some events did not carry out the procedure. In some events, the vets were not to be seen at all. Bulls showing symptoms of fatigue, dehydration, restlessness etc, were forced to participate in all seven events, PETA claims.
‘Regulations don’t prevent cruelty’
Piecing together information from news reports, PETA also estimates that at least 42 humans, 14 bulls and one cow died during the events held since jallikattu was re-permitted. “In 2019, eight humans, five bulls, and one cow have reportedly died in jallikattu and 597 humans have reportedly been injured, including tamers, spectators, bull owners and handlers, police personnel, and villagers, along with countless bulls.” it alleges. In addition to this, PETA also alleges a rise in illegal jallikattu events in various districts in the state, including Krishnagiri and Vellore. Most of the events go unreported, as the district administration, police departments, and media aren’t aware that they’re being held, says the organisation. The illegalities also reportedly extended to parallel bull-taming events where onlookers and spectators from the main event would pounce on the bulls in the collection yard.
Stating that no amount of regulation can prevent cruelty to bulls during jallikattu events, PETA said, “Animal torture is not something to regulate – and regulations can’t negate the fundamental cruelty of deliberately tormenting bulls. Many peer-reviewed papers demonstrate a link between the actions of humans and the fear, distress, and pain experienced by other species. Research has shown that handling animals roughly or abusively compromises their welfare and increases their fear of humans.”
In addition to the amended PCA (Tamil Nadu Amendment) Act (2017), PETA claims that the Tamil Nadu PCA (Conduct of Jallikattu) Rules (2017) and the AWBI jallikattu guidelines (2018), were all ‘blatantly flouted’ in the seven jallikattu events in four districts. Quoting PETA India CEO Dr Manilal Valliyate, the report urges, “Jallikattu is an inherently abusive and dangerous practice that has no place in our modern and progressive society. PETA India is calling for an immediate reinstatement of the ban on these cruel events.”
Source: The News Minute