The Rambo Circus is taking legal action that would shackle the Precious Four, named: Pearl, Ruby, Goldie, and Sylvie for the rest of their lives again! They were rescued from Rambo Circus in Pune, Maharashtra, following a two day and a night-long operation by a rescue team from Wildlife SOS in coordination with FIAPO, PETA, Police and Forest Department. Now the circus is trying to return these elephants to a life of chains, exploitation, and abuse in the circus again. These elephants have just had their first taste of freedom—and they need you to stand by them now to protect that.
“It was shocking to witness the inhumane conditions that the elephants were kept in, shackled by spiked chains and denied any chance at a natural life. The elephants in this circus were a priority as they were in terrible distress” said Geeta Seshamani co-founder Wildlife SOS in a press release.
Despite the standing ban on wild animal circuses, Rambo Circus continued to display these elephants. Thankfully, the circus was discovered and reported to the Central Zoo Authority after the horrifying details of the poor animal welfare conditions the animals lived in were exposed.
Rhea Lopez, Elephant Campaign Manager for Wildlife SOS explained, “While in the circus, the elephants were restrained by both front and back legs even they weren’t performing and were given no opportunity to exercise and no access to fresh water which is mandatory under the law. The mental and physical health status of these elephants is very poor.”
A few days ago a joint operation of police and forest department officials, supported by AWBI inspectors, rescued 22 animals from the circus premises.
But, on Friday, Rambo Circus officials called a press conference in which they claimed to have all the necessary certificates, accusing the authorities of illegally taking their animals away. But Havaldar enlisted the legal breaches that prompted them to act. "We have taken action against the Rambo Circus under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, Performing Animal Rule 2001sections 47, 48 A and 49 and Section 429 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). I have videos showing the animals being ill-treated. One of the elephants is deaf in one ear," he added. Another elephant is completely blind.
Nikunj Sharma, an animal rights activist who looks after the legal cell of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), stressed, "This particular circus has a history of abusing animals. Various inspections done over the past few years have revealed that the condition of animals has remained poor and unchanged, despite various warnings from AWBI and CZA."
