New Investigation Exposes Jallikattu Cruelty

Posted on February 4, 2014 at 10:09 am by PETA

A new inspection of jallikattu events – which took place between 14 and 17 January in four districts in Tamil Nadu – conducted by a team that included investigators from PETA India and Animal Rahat and that was authorised by the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) has revealed once again that jallikattu is inherently cruel to animals and a threat to people. The investigation included inspections of seven jallikattu events that were held at Avaniapuram, Palamedu and Alanganallur in Madurai district; Periya Suriyur and Avarankadu in Tiruchirappalli district; Neikkarapatti in Dindigul district and Koolamedu in Salem district. PETA India has filed a petition with the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court stating that cruelty to bulls and injuries to people were commonplace during the recent jallikattu events and that the guidelines of the Supreme Court and the High Court about holding jallikattu – which state that bulls should not be harmed – were ignored. PETA India also points out, as per the complaints made by the AWBI-authorised inspectors, that police have registered 46 First Information Reports (FIR) against those who violated court guidelines and The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960. The acts of cruelty to animals included the following:

Biting bulls’ tails

A bull’s tail was bitten in the vadi vasal in Avaniapuram on 14 January.

A bull was bitten in the vadi vasal in Periya Suriyur on 15 January.

Twisting bulls’ tails and breaking their tail vertebrae

CREDIT

This bull’s tail was yanked inside Avaniapuram’s vadi vasal on 14 January.

This bull’s tail was pulled in order to force the animal out of the vadi vasal in Periya Suriyur on 15 January.

This bull’s tail was pulled by a spectator in Periya Suriyur on 15 January.

This bull’s owner twisted his tail in order to force the reluctant animal to get back on his feet in Palamedu on 15 January.

This bull’s tail was savagely yanked in Avarankadu on 17 January.

Poking and jabbing bulls with sickles, spears, knives or sticks

This bull was poked with several sticks inside the vadi vasal in Periya Suriyur on 15 January.

Bulls such as this animal were poked in the face inside the vadi vasal in Periya Suriyur on 15 January.

This pocket knife was seized from a bull tamer in a waiting area in Avaniapuram on 14 January.

Beating bulls with bare hands

This man whacked his bull in the vadi vasal in Avaniapuram on 14 January.

Whipping bulls with nylon ropes

Bulls such as this one were whipped by owners inside the vadi vasal in Avaniapuram on 14 January.

Conducting unauthorised “parallel” jallikattu

A spectator pulled a bull’s tail in the inadequate collection area in Periya Suriyur on 15 January.

Spectators hit and punched bulls in the collection area in Avarankadu on 17 January.

Bulls ran amok on the streets of Avaniapuram on 14 January.

Forcing bulls to drink liquids that were likely liquor

A white-coloured liquid was forced down the throat of this bull in Alanganallur on 16 January.

These liquor bottles had been seized by Animal Husbandary Department (AHD) authorities in the waiting area in Avaniapuram on 14 January.

Yanking bulls by nose ropes and bleeding nostrils

Bulls, such as this one in Koolamedu on 17 January, suffered from bleeding nostrils because of savage yanking on nose ropes.

Ear cutting and mutilation

It’s high time that jallikattu is relegated to the history books.