LOSING HUMANITY | ANIMAL CRUELTY IN INDIA

We humans think we own the Earth as seven and a half billion of our kind, teeming around, are spreading fast and thick. But the truth is that we share our planet with millions of other species. Humans make up just around 0.1% of the total biomass of life. We are just a small part of a larger whole.

Nature has connected us in an intricate web of interdependence. We interact and adapt and find ways to survive, which is why it is important that we learn to coexist with all the other creatures. Of course, coexistence does not imply an idealised state, where conflict is absent. The food chain itself ensures we compete for limited resources. But cruelty and a contemptuous disregard for the lives of others certainly cannot be justified.

Let’s cite a few cases!

Here are some heartbreaking cases of animal cruelty in India in recent times will make you wonder how humanity is living on this planet.

Execution Of A Monkey, Telangana: In case of extreme brutality, a monkey was hanged to death from a tree by three people in Khammam district of Telangana in a bid to scare other monkeys. The incident happened on June 26 this year when a troop of monkeys entered the area, following which locals decided to teach them a lesson. 

Monkey hanged in Telangana
Image- SwarnimTimes

Leopard with Head and Paws Cut Off, Maharashtra: In another gut-wrenching story of a voiceless creature being tortured by humans, the carcass of a leopard was found on Wardha-Mandwa road in Maharashtra, with its head and paws cut off. The incident happened on Dec 13 last year.

Leopard's Head and Paws Cut off in Maharashtra
Image: Twitter @vijaypTOI

Firecracker-Filled Pineapple Killed Pregnant Elephant , Kerala: A firecracker-filled pineapple has killed a pregnant elephant in Kerala, which was allegedly placed by some heartless locals. The fruit exploded in the wild animal’s body and led to its death. The incident came to light on June 3 this year.

Pregnant Elephant killed in Kerala
Image- AFP

Pregnant Dog Beaten to Death, Bhubneshwar: On April 21 this year, a pregnant stray dog was mercilessly beaten by two women in the Odisha capital. Crying in pain, the injured dog was rushed to a veterinarian in critical condition. After a treatment of 7 days, the dog succumbed to her injuries. She delivered two pups prematurely, none of which could survive.

Pregnant Dog beaten to Death in Bhubneshwar
Image- Newsd

Security Guards Try to Bury Street Dog Alive, Gurgaon: Reported on Dec 8 last year, a group of security guards of an upscale apartment complex in Gurgaon’s Sector-49 were caught trying to bury a stray dog they had brutally assaulted with batons. The dog, that sustained fractures on its legs and head was taken to a nearby veterinary hospital, where he lost his life in just three days.

Security Guards try to bury Street Dog Alive

Image- Twitter @rachnagaur_

Every time we dream of a world with people who offer nothing but kindness, love and spread positivity, we end up getting fooled by the heatless humans around us. It’s frightening to realize that these people neither have any fear to do such wrong things nor they feel guilty. The incidents also made one ponder as to whether the laws in existence are sufficient enough to protect animals.

What needs to be done?

The first and foremost reason for such inhumane acts is the feeling of power over other beings. Greed and violence are amongst other reasons. We humans don’t care about what happens to animals, as long as we are living our lives blissfully.

Educating children to have respect for animals and treat them with kindness is the first step towards stopping such acts of cruelty towards animals. Food and shelter should be provided to strays in the form of government shelters, which apparently don’t care for them much, registered firms and NGOs need to assure their safety.

Moreover there is a need to have stricter laws for the protection of animals and their effective implementation is also a must.  Also, reports of animal cruelty are needed to be taken seriously.

Frequent raids should be conducted against people operating under the guise of shelter providers or “rescuers”. They often fail to provide resources for the physical and social needs of these animals.

Apart from the human-animal conflicts, the cases of intentional cruelty have increased in the past few years. If everyone starts to look at animals as part of our planet, we will see fewer cases of cruelty towards animals in the near future.

Animals roaming on the streets is a common sight in India. Amongst them, pets are given special care by their owners while the stray animals are ignored by all and often ill-treated. It is essential that humans understand the value of all life, and treat the strays and pets alike.

The highly growing population of animals in urban areas may lead to insecurity amongst people and cause resistance in the busy life of people. These circumstances give rise to cruel and barbaric treatment against animals. By regular monitoring and supervising particular areas, society can contribute to protecting animals from cruelty. Moreover, animal services agency needs to be called for extreme cases.

Strict Laws Required

The cruelty against animals is a punishable crime under Section 428 and Section 429 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). However, the laws and rules are not being followed, and incidents of animal cruelty in India are escalating by the day.

The greed of people for money leads them to sell body parts of animals for their personal gains. The understanding of the value of life and emotional attitude towards animals is necessary.

Organisations such as the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), which are working for animal rights, can achieve a lot if they receive help from local organisations and the public in general. 

Our ancestors lived closer to the natural world. We don’t understand animals the way they did. With increasing urbanisation, we are only removing ourselves farther and farther. Our pets are probably our only limited window to the vast animal kingdom. But they sentimentalise our view. Enclosed within walls, in our artificial cities, learning through books, electronic devices and potted plants, we are trapped in concrete jungles, disconnected from what is outside. How can we truly understand, respect, and even attempt to communicate with the vast world, teeming with life, around us?

Our actions and our behaviour cause a huge impact on others who share our world, our forests, the air we breathe, the rivers and the seas. Centuries ago, wild animals posed a real threat to humanity. That equation has reversed today. The essential interconnected web of life is shrinking. We need to restore balance, repair our relation with nature, and learn to share our world. We are not alone. The planet belongs to all of us.

Image- Tania Das