Report of the inspection and evaluation of Amar Circus presently housed at K.P.

Ground, Nagpur by the Sub-committee constituted by the Central Zoo Authority for its inspection, evaluation and its recommendations.
The committee members as listed below inspected Amar Circus on 25.06.2012 which is presently camped at Kastur Chand Park Ground, Nagpur for the purpose of review and evaluation vide CZA Order No. F. No. 11-4/2010-CZA (Vol. III) (M), dated 18.06.2012 on 25th June, 2012. 1.Mr. P. K. Mahajan, Deputy Conservator of Forests , Nagpur Represnetative of Chief Wildlife Warden Government of Maharashtra, Nagpur 2. Mr. Prakash Patil, Sub Divisional Magistrate, Nagpur Representtaive of District Commissioner Nagpur (Maharashtra), 3.Shri Kartick Satyanarayan, Co-founder Wildlife SOS. D-210, Defence Colony, New Delhi 24. 4.Mrs. Suparna Baksi Ganguly, Wildlife Rescue & Rehabilitation Centre(WRRC), Southern Cross, 9 A Myrtle Lane, Richmond Town, Bangalore 560 025, Karnataka 5.Dr. A. B. Shrivastav Director, Wildlife Health and Management Department, College of Veterinary Science & Animal Husbandry, Jawaharlal Nehru Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya, Jabalpur 482 001 (Madhya Pradesh)

6. Advocate S. N. Kapoor, Nagpur Representative of Assistant Secretary, Animal Welfare Board of India
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P.B. No.8672, 13/1, Third Seaward Road, Valmiki Nagar, Thiruvanmiyur, Chennai 600 041 (Tamil Nadu) 7.Sh. Ashish Goswami Secretary, People for Animals Rescue Centre, Geeta Bhavan, Gopuri, Wardha 442 001 (Maharashtra) 8. Dr. Brij KIshor Gupta Evaluation & Monitoring Officer Central Zoo Authority, New Delhi 9. Mr. Avinash Anjikar Assistant Conservator of Forests, Nagpur 10. Mr. Chandrakant Purushottam Rao Gadge Proprietor, Amar Circus 11. Mr. R. M. Pillai Manager, Amar Circus 12. Mr K. S. Venugopal Manager, Amar Circus This inspection was carried out pursuance to the complaints received from Mrs. Maneka Gandhi, Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha (Annexure I) and subsequent order issued by the CZA dated 15.06.2012 (Annexure-II). The inspection report submitted by the team of Govt. Officials from the Animal Welfare Board of India, the Animal Husbandry Department & Forest Department of the State of Maharashtra dated 19.06.2012 was considered (Annexure-III) while carrying out the present inspection. The Government team consisting of the below mentioned officers had earlier carried out the inspection of Amar Circus camped at K.P. Ground, Nagpur on 09 June 2012 and submitted a report on 19.06.2012.

1.Dr. R. M. Bhojane Asst Commissioner of Animal Husbandry, DDCAH, Nagpur.

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2.Dr. K. S. Bhide Asst Commissioner of Animal Husbandry VPC, Nagpur. 3. Mr. S.N. Kapoor Advocate and Co-opted Member, Animal Welfare Board of India, Nagpur. 4. Dr. R. W. RewatkarL.D.O. Vety Disp Gr-I Gumgaon,Tah- Hingna 5. Dr. Chitra Raut Veterinary Officer, Wildlife (E) APCCF, Nagpur. 6. Mr. A.D. Anjikar. BhojaneACF, Nagpur Division, Nagpur. Findings of the Sub-committee on the field inspection of the Amar Circus on 25 June 2012 at Nagpur: 1. No Animal Health or Treatment Register or Records are maintained or available with Amar Circus. 2. Animal Health Records shown during the inspection appear to be recently maintained since 20th June, 2012 only. These records appear to have been hurriedly created after the inspection carried out by AWBI earlier in June 2012. 3. Some vaccination records are maintained for the dogs which are also after 19th June, 2012. 4. Veterinary Treatment Register was also not maintained and no records are maintained. 5. Some erratic feeding records are available again only from 20th June, 2012. From these erratically maintained records it appears the elephant is being given 250 kgs of Banyan leaves, sugar cane, jaggery and Khichdi. This cannot be concluded as the regular feed of the elephant since the elephants body condition is poor. 6. Water is kept in a large plastic drum near the elephant but is not freely available or accessible to the elephant as she is restrained from both the front and rear legs very tightly giving the elephant very little scope for movement.

7. Number of animals: Hippopotamus 1 No. (Female), Elephant 1 No. (Female), Camel -3 No. , Dog -17 No., Horse 9 Nos., Birds
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African grey parrot-1 nos Blue gold macaw-1nos Sulphur crested cockatoos-3 nos Red Ecelectus parrot- 1nos Goffin cockatoo white-2 nos Total: 8 Nos Domestic ducks 6 Nos.. 8. The condition of bird cages is as below:
Cage 1: Blue gold macaque & Red Ecelectus parrot 1.1 mt Length x 1.05 mt Height x 0.90 mt Width Cage 2 : African grey parrot & Goffin cockatoos 1.05 mt Length x 0.80 mt Width x 1.0 mt Height Cage 3 : Two Suplur Crested cockatoo 0.90 mt Length x 0.60 Width x 1.30 mt Height

The birds have been provided with metal Rod (MS) as perches. The birds have no space to retire or hide. There is no enrichment for the birds. No ownership or purchase records or CITES records were available. All birds displayed stereotypic behavior.

Elephant: 1. Elephant bears microchip (00064835CD) located near the left rump region near base of tail. 2. Elephant was tethered by right hind limb and left fore limb with a tight nylon rope. 3. The elephant is chained about 23 hours in a day and given only about one hour exercise. 4. Space provided for movement of elephant was found within 3-4 meter rope on either end. 5. The elephant feed was found in muddy area where urine and dung had accumulated. 6. No veterinarian employed by the Circus although the circus has so many animals. 7. There are no feeding and retiring enclosures for any animals. 8. Tetanus toxoid vaccination has not been carried out regularly. 9. Regular supplements of minerals, food additives etc are not administered. 10. Screening for intestinal parasites and routine veterinary care is not done. 11. Elephant suffers from severe foot problems and requires extensive treatment and regular foot care which is completely absent presently in the circus. 12. The elephant housed at Amar Circus named Padma, Age - 35 yrs, Sex- Female is showing signs of restlessness and stereotypic behavior. It is evident that the animal is severely restrained using rope and housed on unsuitable flooring in a very unhygienic environment. Tethering is done in one spot only as a result of which, there is accumulation of dung, urine and mud creating further unhygienic environment for the elephant. 13. The sub committee is concerned that the mental and physical health of this elephant is rapidly deteriorating each day due to lack of exercise, companion animals, poor veterinary care, and lack of a balanced diet. 14. Continuous restraint of the elephant with a tight rope almost stretching the elephant with ropes in both hind and fore limbs, lack of adequate bathing, wallowing, dust bath, etc which are all absent is resulting in severe compromise in the care and welfare of this elephant. Hippopotamus:
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15. The Hippopotamus is provided with a small concrete pool with no enrichment. 16. The water in Hippo pool resembles sewage water and is not changed daily. 17. The hippos right eye has corneal opacity and left eye has impaired vision. This bilaterally blind animal appears to be suffering from a complete lack of veterinary care and welfare. 18. During feeding it was observed that the Hippo responds only to sound / audio and used sounds to locate the food. 19. The front incisors in the mouth were found to be severely damaged. 20. As per records dated 20th June, 2012, the Amar circus claims to be giving the hippopotamus about 70 kg of vegetables each day. 21. The enclosure for this animal does not have any scope for exercise, enrichment or welfare. The Sub- committee after detailed inspection and elaborate discussions amongst the members unanimously agrees and recommends the following: 1. The Circus owner does not possess any specific ownership certificate or legal procurement certificate for the female elephant (Padma) aged 35 as per the claim of the Amar Circus. The only document produced by Circus owner was an old document referring to three elephants which does not endorse or confirm legal ownership of this elephant. It may be concluded that this elephants ownership is illegal and a violation of the WPA 1972. The welfare of the elephant is also severely compromised (as mentioned elsewhere in this report) and is in violation of CZA guidelines for housing and care of elephants. The committee recommends that the Chief Wildlife Warden of the state be requested to seize the elephant immediately and send it to a rehabilitation center as advised by CZA where the animal can receive extensive veterinary treatment, be housed in a natural, freeranging environment with other female elephants and have scope for exhibiting natural behaviors. A case may be booked by both the Chief Wildlife Warden against circus owner for illegal possession of the elephant and for violation of PCA Act by AWBI respectively. 2. The Circus owner did not intimate the CZA about the death of another elephant that was in their possession female elephant Radha aged 37 years which died at Sikandarpur, Muzaffarpur on 29th April, 2008 as per the certificate issued by the DFO, Tirhut Forest Division, Muzaffarpur (Annexure V). This is a violation of the law and concealment of information. Further the Circus owner also did not inform CZA about a male elephant that was euthanized on 16.09.2011 at Chhindwara, as per the death certificate issued by the Deputy Director, Veterinary Services, Chhindwara and DFO, Chhindwara Division (Annexure VI and Annexure VII). This is tantamount to violation of the law and concealment of information. The Central Zoo Authority may initiate legal action, show cause notice to Amar Circus, as this is the violation of Recognition of Zoo Rules, 2009 and Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 3. There is further confusion in paperwork which was revealed on perusal of the registration granted for performance of animals by the Animal Welfare Board of India, Chennai dated 23.09.2004 under
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the Performing Animal Registration Rules, 2001 to Mr. Vicky Raj, Proprietor of Amar Circus indicates the circus having four Elephants along with other animals. However the circus has no records to prove the whereabouts of the fourth elephant. The declaration made by the Circus to CZA also only mentions three elephants. Therefore, the Animal Welfare Board of India, Chennai is requested to look into the matter immediately. 4. Since there is no individual ownership document available for the female elephant PADMA aged 35 years in the name of present proprietor, the Animal Welfare Board of India must immediately cancel performance permission and registration to Amar Circus. 5. The Animal Welfare Board of India must recall and cancel any licences issued to circuses that use animals. AWBI must also ban Amar Circus from any performance, holding, procuring, owning, possessing, exhibiting, displaying, breeding any exotic and domestic animals by Amar Circus. 6. Committee further recommends that Animal Welfare Board of India must ban Amar circus (under relevant sections of Prevention of Cruelty act and AWBI guidelines) from housing any domestic or exotic animals / birds / reptiles for the purpose of display / breeding / performance / exhibition etc. 7. Committee requests the Animal Welfare Board of India, Chennai to issue necessary instructions to immediately stop performance of blind Hippopotamus at the Circus. The said Hippopotamus may be sent to lifetime care in consultation with Central Zoo Authority to a recognized zoo/rescue centre, immediately. The Central Zoo Authority to kindly facilitate the identification of zoos or rescue centers for housing the blind Hippopotamus being performed by the circus operators. The Committee further appeals to the CZA to relax or exempt the rules for rescued animals not being housed in display enclosures (as there are no rescue centers for Hippos in India currently) as a special case as all Hippopotamus enclosures in zoos are likely to be situated in display areas in zoos. This will be in the interest of the Hippopotamus. 9. The Committee members observed that none of the animals or birds have any legal documents to prove their acquisition or source or ownership or legal procurement such as CITES certificates etc. This committee having witnessed the deplorable and pathetic condition of all the exotic birds housed at the circus, requests the AWBI and CZA to take action against circus owner to shift all animals out and to other suitable facilities immediately where the appropriate housing facility can be provided to each bird and animal. 9. Amar circus does not have necessary infrastructure to maintain such animals and in their greed to use these animals and exploit them for commercial reasons, they are inflicting unnecessary cruelty upon these animals. 10. Keeping in view of the welfare of the animals, the committee recommends that all animals that are not covered by the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972 and Central Zoo Authority guidelines (domestic and exotic animals) such as horses, camels, dogs, ducks and birds etc
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must be immediately removed from the circus by the Animal Welfare Board of India and have them transferred to suitable Animal Welfare Organizations for rehabilitation and retirement. However, exotic birds may be removed to zoos where proper and appropriate aviary facilities may be available for such exotic birds. The inspection report was prepared and completed on 25th June, 2012 at 1840 HRS time and all the inspection committee members appended their signatures to the above report in confirmation of the findings of the committee. Certified that the signatories have fully read the report, and are in sound physical and mental health at the time of affixing their signatures below. Kartick Satyanarayan Suparna Baksi Ganguly Dr. A. B. Srivastav Ashish Goswami

Dr. Brij Kishor Gupta Ad. S. N. Kappor P. K. Mahajan Prakash Patil