PETA Warns of Another COVID-like Disease From Elephants That Can Be Threat To Public Health

As the country is struggling to curb the growing coronavirus, an animal right organisation has urged Union Minister Giriraj Singh to ban elephants from being exhibited or trained for performances.

The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has warned the government of high prevalence of tuberculosis among elephants that can pose a threat to public health.

PETA has asked the Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying for their attention to another imminent zoonotic threat -- tuberculosis, which is faced by captive elephants in the country.

The PETA in its letter said that tuberculosis, can be transmitted from elephants to humans. "Many captive elephants in the country suffer from TB. It is high time we unshackle all elephants and allow them to live freely, as nature intended. Banning their use in performances would bring us closer to that goal and protect the public from this source of tuberculosis. COVID-19 has shown us that zoonotic disease risks must be taken seriously," says PETA India CEO and veterinarian Dr Manilal Valliyate.

PETA in its letter also noted that captive elephants have tested reactive for TB. Most of the elephants have been used for rides at Amer Fort near Jaipur.

"The Ministry can issue a central notification in the official Gazette of India banning the exhibition and training of elephants as performing animals," the letter written to the minister stated.

Being protected under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, elephants are excluded from the ban which has been imposed by the central government.