Animals also reflect human behaviour

Mumbai, Jan 25 (UNI) US-based animal behaviour expert, author and research scientist Jonathan Balcombe advocated the need for basic laws for animals such as the ''Right to Life,'' ''Right to Movement,'' and ''Freedom from Enslavement'' to protect animal habitat from being destroyed by human misadventures, greed and ignorance.

Mr Balcombe, a member of the world famous Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM), is on a three-week visit to India.

He will be delivering lectures at various Veterinary schools in the country on issues related to animal behaviour and the importance of plant-based diet.

Talking to UNI on the plight of animal care in India, he said,''India has many good laws for the welfare and protection of animals on a whole, but the implementation of these laws have been scare, which is a matter of serious concern.'' Advocating the right for survival of animals, he said animals in general are pleasure-seekers enjoying food, love, affection, play, sex, touch and many other aspects reflecting human tendencies.

The scientist said the collective slaughter of animals for human consumption can be deemed as the worst kind of abuse animals are put through. In this regard, two states in the United States (US) have already enacted legislations banning collective slaughter or factory farming of animals, he added.

Similarly, the conditions of enslaved birds in barriers at poultry farms across the world for slaughter are also unhealthy. As a result of various findings, the European Union (EU) has begun phasing out such barriers.

On the issue of dealing with stray animals, a familiar scene across the Indian streets, Mr Balcombe stressed tougher civic cleanliness laws and sterilisation to reduce the number of stray animals, which survive on trash and waste food.

Adding further, he said a two-tier awareness programm on the treatment and ethical behaviour towards animals should be regularly undertaken in schools, colleges and other academic institutions to spread awareness and prevent the abuse of animals.

Citing various studies and research reports, he pinpointed that diseases such as heart problems, cancer and stress in the US were common and more predominant with meat eaters. Whereas, people dependent on plant-based diet were more healtheir and lived a longer life, Mr Balcombe added.

Condemning the use of animals as guniea-pigs for medical research by organisations and government agencies, he asserted that tests and studies, so far, had proved that use of animals for testing was scientifically ''wrong and unethical''.

For a safe and healthy animal habitat, the scientist is of the opinion that population must be under control to avoid human encroachment into wildlife habitats and vice-versa as human behaviour and animal survival are inter-dependent.

UNI