Prosecute buffalo abusers!
WHAT WE SAW
In 2017 Animal Equality introduced its nationwide investigation into dairy farms exposing the cruel and illegal practices conducted routinely for dairy production. The investigation also exposed the abuse inflicted on animals during the transport of ‘unproductive’ dairy animals to the slaughterhouse.
Unfortunately dairy animals are subjected to these ghastly practices even today. During our latest investigation into the production of dairy in India, Animal Equality investigators witnessed buffaloes being mercilessly abused in Paglahat village near Kolkata.
While loading a buffalo onto a truck, three men abused her by pinching her genitals with their hands. The men over the course of several minutes mercilessly beat her, twist her tail and prod her genitals with a stick. They pour water over her mouth and nostrils to make her feel like she is drowning.
The ramp used for loading the buffaloes onto the truck is positioned at a severe angle not suitable for natural locomotion and therefore it is natural for the buffaloes to struggle to get on to the truck.
These cruel acts captured on video during the incident are a clear violation of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act of 1960. In addition, several other legal violations can be seen in the footage. The vehicle the buffalos are loaded onto contains no permanent partitions in the body of the vehicle that carry the buffalos individually, in violation of the Central Motor Vehicles Act of 2016. The buffalo are not properly secured, which is a violation of the West Bengal Motor Vehicle Act, and the truck has no padding or tail board in violation of the Transport of Animal Rules of 1978.
Animal Equality submitted evidence of this ghastly incidence to the Animal Welfare Board of India, Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Services and the Calcutta Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. The Animal Welfare Board of India in turn filed a complaint with the Commissioner of Police and forwarded the evidence to the Deputy Commissioner and the Director of state Animal Husbandry. But the local authorities have not acted yet.
EVIDENCE OF THE INCIDENT
Learn more about cruelty-free diet
The best way to help animals is by keeping them off your plate. India boasts of a wide range of delicious and nutritious plant-based foods and today there are many plant-based dairy options available in the market.