Cruelty against Animals – Prevalence, Safeguards, Shortcomings

The death of the elephant, nicknamed Saumya, in Kerala invited outrage from many sections of the society. The wild animal, which was pregnant with a calf, had eaten a pineapple stuffed with crackers. It had succumbed to its injuries standing in a river. The incident calls for a serious discussion of the prevalence of animal cruelty in India and a relook into the efficiency of various safeguards in place to eliminate the issue.

How prevalent is animal cruelty in India?

• Acts of cruelty against animals is not a new occurrence. Mankind has been committing such horrendous acts since ancient times. The issue intensified with the expansion of human settlement- increasingly eating into the homes, feeding grounds and traditional migration routes of these wild animals.