2023 seemed to wrap up in the blink of an eye. It left some bittersweet news for us from around the globe. Canada restricted trade in elephant ivory and rhino horn. A bill was introduced in South Korea to eliminate dog meat trade by 2027. A very progressive Bill , it not only asked dog breeders and restaurants which serve dog meat to phase out of their businesses in 3 years and find new businesses to run or jobs to work in, but also promised financial aid to support them during this period.
Bulls both in Spain and India faced a flak – the Hon’ble Supreme Court in India allowed Jallikattu, Kambhala and bullock cart races, while Spain’s new animal welfare laws excluded bulls of La Corrida. Both decisions were based on the argument that cultural traditions should be preserved. Many degenerate cultural traditions all over the world have been banned as they proved either harmful or indignified for humans. But alas ! Animals are not as privileged. Even today they are considered mere commodities for our consumption.
Our worst nightmare came true when the Section 377 was removed from the Bharatiya Nyaya Samhita Bill. Now the animals cannot turn to any law to protect them or bring them justice in cases of bestiality. Our Rhesus Macaques also lost the race after being de listed while the Wildlife Protection Amendment Act allowed the transfer of captive elephants.
We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope – Martin Luther King
Let us hope to see the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act amended and notified in the coming year. Let us hope that the implementation of the Animal Birth Control Rules will be as strong as the Rules are, leading to a diminishing street animal population. Let us hope every district takes the implementation of the SPCA Rules seriously. Let us hope that the rising hatred towards animals, will plunge down. There are so many individuals pooling in their combined strength to pull out the movement from the abyss, because where we are right now is good enough to serve as the stepping stone to the next level. Because we know for sure, that it gets dark sometimes, but morning always comes.
