Straight Answers

<div class="section1"><div class="Normal"><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">MANEKA GANDHI </span>Animals'' Right Activist on the controversy surrounding performance of animals in the Russian Circus in the city.<br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">Where did the Russian circus authorities go wrong? </span><br /><br />The Russian circus authorities'' claim to have all the necessary permissions, is not absolutely true.Ideally they should have procured written permission from the Central Zoo Authority and Animal Welfare Board before bringing in animals to India. In fact, both the authorities refused them permission when the circus officials contacted them over phone. As far as I know, they have been strictly asked by the authorities not to showcase any animal brought from a foreign country. <br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">Is it legal to make animals perform in a circus in India?</span><br /><br />The sea-lions were not allowed because according to CITES, an international convention, the movement of wild animals from one country to another is prohibited. In India, a circus party has to apply to the concerned authorities if they want to bring in other animals. In this case, they were denied permission. So now, under the Wildlife Act, the circus authorities should be put behind bars for seven years. <br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">What is your take on the Indian circus companies?</span><br /><br />Using tigers for performance has been banned in India along with a checklist of other animals like monkeys and bears. Out of the 32 circus companies in the country, 11 have not surrendered the animals they have to the government. But animals that were surrendered have been sent to rescue centres. </div> </div>