FWD: (IN) Rescued circus lions find a new home in Tamil Nadu

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Rescued circus lions find a new home in Tamil Nadu

Papri Sri Raman in Madras

 

http://www.rediff.com/news/2001/aug/03zoo.htm

 

Seventeen emaciated animals, including six lions, rescued from a private zoo

in Tamil Nadu have found a new home.

 

The animals rescued on July 31 at Kuzhithurai, in Tirunelveli district,

include three lion cubs, two lions, a lioness, a porcupine, a jackal, three

macaque, two owls, two palm civet cats, a squirrel and a python.

 

The zoo owner, identified as Kerala resident M A Salim, had kept them in

tiny cages. Officials said it could not be immediately determined how long

they have been held captive. Salim is absconding.

 

The animals used to be taken around for exhibition in festivals and fairs.

 

On Thursday, the animals reached the lion safari at the Arignar Anna zoo at

Vandalur, on the outskirts of Madras, arriving from Tirunelvli after a

25-hour road journey.

 

Zoo officials here found that the animals had become completely unused to

wilderness. A veterinary doctor who examined the animals said: " They had

been caged for so long that even the jackals had lost their natural

instincts. "

 

They were provided water and 25 kg of beef Thursday night, but it was water

the animals chose after their harrowing journey.

 

The animals would be kept in quarantine before they are let out into common

enclosures.

 

These are not the only illegally confined animals rescued in recent months.

In May 11 lions seized from two traveling zoos in Tamil Nadu were brought to

Vandalur. According to V Irulandi, director of the Vandalur zoo: " The

quarantine area is small for the number of animals being regularly seized

from private showmen. "

 

The Central Zoo Authority of India has provided the Vandalur zoo with an

additional facility, a Rescue and Rehabilitation Center.

 

Sixteen lions seized from a private zoo at Sangli in Maharahtra are due to

arrive at the center soon. After the quarantine period, they would be let

out in the lion safari at the Vandalur Park, which already has 38 lions.

 

Zoo officials, however, have one major complaint. The Indian Wildlife

Protection Act does not provide for protection to foreign species seized on

Indian soil.

 

" Offenders, primarily animal exhibitors, showing these animals in rural

India, often claim that the animals are of foreign breed. Most of them are

hybrids. Just a certificate of ownership is enough for a person to keep

these animals. It is not known how these animals are acquired and

transported to India, " the director said.

 

" It is difficult for us to rescue the foreign animals because of the

loophole in the Act, " another official said. " There are many such animals

held privately in cramped and appalling conditions waiting to be rescued.

 

" But for that the Act needs revision and the rescuers need more authority. "

 

Indo-Asian News Service