An animal rights group on Tuesday called for an investigation into the deaths of four sea lions, 10 dogs and seven cats belonging to Russia’s state circus that burned to death in a fire in India.
”We are going to court to ensure that there is an inquiry and that the owners are prosecuted for negligence and for endangering the lives of people and animals,” said Anuradha Sawhney of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.
The animals, which took part in a circus tour of India, had been due to be shipped back to Moscow on Thursday, Russia’s RIA-Novosti news agency cited the head of the circus, Mstislav Zapashnoi, as saying in a statement.
”Russia’s state circus company voices its resolute protest and demands a thorough investigation as we think this incident was nothing less than arson,” Zapashnoi said, adding that the circus’s Indian partners had disappeared along with customs and veterinarian documents.
The animals were housed on the sprawling Chitrakoot ground in Bombay’s Andheri suburb after the circus closed a week ago, a police official said.
”However, a fire broke out Monday afternoon and these animals were killed in it,” he said. — Sapa-AFP