ANIMAL WELFARE

 EXPLOITATION OF MULES BY PILGRIMS 

In India , in the name of pilgrimage , thousands of mules die at a very early age as they are somehow tortured by in the name of recreation and pilgirmage in many parts of our country. Compared to than any other country , India stands in the top list in the case of exploiting these animals in the name of "bhakti" and "samaj seva", which is ignored by our government and no steps are effectively taken to stop such practices .For centuries, non-human animals have been used as means of transportation; donkeys have been used as early as 3500 BC. However, even now, in the 21st century, animals are still being used for transportation. Known as pack animals; the movement of people and goods, even sometimes called ‘beasts of burden’ but little do people know the abusive regimen and conditions these animals go through. 

Animals such as donkeys, mules, and horses are constantly used for carrying heavy loads such as construction material, logs, and even people or to pull objects, As time goes on, they are overworked as well as underfed, which subsequently leads to their collapse due to extreme malnourishment and fatigue. Additionally, the carrying of such heavy loads results in multiple injuries, such as damaged joints, dehydration, injured hooves, and the development of infections. However, “owners” refuse to seek medical attention, which leads to the animals' inability to walk; their “owners” view them as useless and hence are abandoned and left for dead.

Better to be a Donkey Than be a Mule in Kedarnath as Pilgrimage Takes Life of 60 Pack Animals

what actually separates a human being from an innocent animal? Other than the body structure, what sets humans and animals apart is their conscience, and it seems the qualm of mankind has gone down the hills in Kedarnath Dham Yatra. Reports have confirmed over 60  dead mules in Kedarnath!

In a span of a mere twenty days, sixty mules have died on the way to the Kedarnath shrine as per a report by TOI. Another report by Hindi newspaper Jagran divulges the death of 103 horses and mules. The tally would worsen even further if a report is compiled taking all Indian pilgrimage figures into account.

In a span of a mere twenty days, sixty mules have died on the way to the Kedarnath shrine, reflecting the cruel work culture and plight of the animal in the Hindu pilgrimage site

Donning a snake around his neck, sitting over a tiger skin, and riding a Brahman bull, Lord Shiva is one of the most decorated gods of the Hindus, and pilgrims barrage in numbers at his abode in Kedarnath. Considered one of the holiest temples of Lord Shiva, thousands of pilgrims pack their bags and make their trip to the sacred place, located in Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand, India.

The talking point, however, is the way these pilgrims reach the premises of the temple. Some choose to travel by foot, while others take refuge on the backs of mules and horses to reach the temple gates. Why just gates? Because poor mules, or any other animal for that matter, do not have the right to enter the temple. If someone tries to sneak an animal inside, an FIR is filed by the temple committee like it was filed previously when a man sneaked a dog inside the temple as reported by the New Indian Express.

This brings us to an important point of discussion – what actually separates a human being from an innocent animal? Other than the body structure, what sets humans and animals apart is their conscience, and it seems the qualm of mankind has gone down the hills in Kedarnath Dham Yatra. Reports have confirmed over 60  dead mules in Kedarnath!

In a span of a mere twenty days, sixty mules have died on the way to the Kedarnath shrine as per a report by TOI. Another report by Hindi newspaper Jagran divulges the death of 103 horses and mules. The tally would worsen even further if a report is compiled taking all Indian pilgrimage figures into account.

Mule Exploitation in Kedarnath -

Whatever might be the official number, it’s pretty evident that pack animals have been abused and exploited for a very long time. Be it Kedarnath Yatra, Vaishno Devi Yatra, or any other pilgrim journey, mules and horses are worked to death in many parts of the country. The poor animals are flogged and even drugged to make them carry weight for hours without any break. These pack animals ferry pilgrims up and down the hill on the tough terrain, are fed poorly, and treated even worse.

Little action has been taken against the noted exploitation, and there are even cases where no one seems to bat an eye. Point in case, The Indian Express did a story in 2018 on a Facebook post that depicted the deplorable condition of the animals in the Vaishno Devi trek. Harsha Singh, an Indian resident started the petition to the Animal Welfare Board of India as a tribute to all the animals who have died or are dying carrying people up and down the holy mountains of India.

CASE OF JASPER -

One of the claimed victims of animals that have been abused through transportation means is Jasper, an 8-year-old mule residing at Friendicoes SECA, an animal shelter located in New Delhi, and Gurugram, Haryana. Furthermore, he was rescued from Sadarbazaar in Delhi and was in critical condition. Jasper is blind from both eyes and hence kept trying his utmost best to avoid ongoing traffic. Moreover, the most disheartening fact of the situation is that Jasper’s eyesight could have been preserved if his owner would have treated his infection in the earlier stages. However, his owner abstains from treating any kind of infection as it brings about extra costs which they are not willing to pay. There are many more mules just like Jasper, however, Jasper is one of the luckier ones. Why so? Since the majority of such mules and donkeys are not found and rescued, their lives are drastically cut short as a result of accidents on the road, railway tracks, or even plastic ingestion. This is just one of the many cases of animals being abused by being used for transportation.

not only mules but donkeys are also exploited in the same way , lets know about the case of Romeo-

CASE OF ROMEO -

Another donkey who is a victim of transportation abuse is Romeo; whose mother was exploited by the transport industry in order to carry construction material for large parts of the day. This resulted in Romeo not being able to be cared for by his mother in a time of need. Furthermore, Romeo and his mother were left to graze extremely close to railway tracks and in the absence of supervision. Unfortunately, Romeo’s mother met with an accident and was unable to be saved. When Romeo’s mother died, he was just 6 months old. Soon, he was rescued by a shelter as he was at a very young age and would require care. It is completely devastating and disheartening to learn the perplexity and sadness Romeo must have felt watching his very own mother being run over by a train. Romeo is one of the most friendly donkeys in the shelter and enjoys the company of other donkeys, despite his trauma. 

STEPS WE CAN TAKE AT OUR END -

No person shall use or cause to be used any animal for drawing any vehicle or carrying any load– 

a. For more than nine hours in a day in the aggregate.

b. For more than five hours continuously without a break for rest for the animal

c. In any area where the temperature exceeds 37 degrees C (99 degrees F) during the period between 12.00 noon and 3.00 p.m.

Animals are also to be disengaged after work. No person shall continue to keep or cause to be kept in harness any animal used to draw vehicles after it is no longer needed for such purpose.

However if one fails to comply with these laws, there is no punishment for the owner of the animal other than the animal or vehicle being taken away. Although the animal is rescued, the owner goes unpunished, which reflects the absence of strict laws against the abuse of these animals. 

BLOG BY -

SHAGUN DHILLON

B.TECH CSE 

ENROLLMENT NO :- A20405221033