Animal lovers slams AP Govt decision over cock fights

Hyderabad, Dec 24: The Andhra Pradesh government's decision to allow cockfights during the Sankranti celebrations is facing a stiff opposition from animal lovers and wildlife officials. Animal lovers across the city said that allowing animals to fight for spectators amounted to torture.

The government, on its part, backed its decision saying that "tradition should be respected."

Animal rescuer Pradeep N said, "The government says that animals will not be hurt with sharp knives and betting also will not be allowed. This is a very weak defence. Most of the cockfights end in animal's death or serious injury.

Cockfights will be betted upon as happens usually and there needs to be very careful monitoring of it."

A. Shankaran, OSD Wildlife, said, "Cockfights without knives will last longer and lead to people running out of patience. So those putting up the fight shows will definitely allow knives to make more money. But this is a violation of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960."

Animal experts say that altering an animal's natural behavior, training domestic animals to fight and even torturing them for the sake of winning is cruel.