NEW Investigation Shows Shocking Kambala Cruelty, Take Action to Help Buffaloes Now

New video and photographic evidence captured by PETA India at Kambala (buffalo racing) events in Bengaluru and other locations in Karnataka in 2023 reveal, yet again, that cruelty towards buffalo bulls is inherent in these races.

The latest investigation shows buffaloes were tethered without food or water, beaten with sticks, and controlled with painful nose ropes. They were shouted at, slapped, and roughly handled as they showed signs of fear and distress. In Bengaluru, the exhausted buffaloes were forced to race on a longer 155-metre track, leading to severe physiological stress, as evidenced by heavy salivation, frothing at the mouth, and laboured breathing. These findings were documented in a report shared with the Karnataka government in January 2024.

In a petition filed by PETA India seeking the prohibition of buffalo bull races in Bengaluru and other areas, the Karnataka government and the Dakshina Kannada Samithi undertook that the event publicly reported to be conducted in Bengaluru on 26 October 2024 will not take place. A bench of the High Court of Karnataka consisting of the Hon’ble Chief Justice NV Anjaria and Hon’ble Justice KV Aravind ordered the state of Karnataka to inform PETA India in advance if requests for permits are received for any other Kambala event in the city so that PETA India’s objections may be heard by the court before any such permission is granted.

In the interim, the Supreme Court agreed to consider an e-mail requesting an urgent listing of the Review Petition filed by PETA India and other animal protection entities seeking a review of the Judgment permitting the conduct of jallikattu in Tamil Nadu and kambala or bullock cart race in Karnataka and Maharashtra—places where these spectacles have been allowed and traditionally conducted. It is, however, still illegal to use bulls for performances in other states.

Buffalo bulls used in Kambala events endure unfathomable physical and psychological punishment. Please help them by sending a message to the chief minister of Karnataka using the form below.

View Message +

Sri

Siddaramaiah

.

Government of Karnataka

Dear Sri Siddaramaiah,

I have just learned from my friends at PETA India that investigations of Kambala events in Karnataka reveal that buffalo bulls struggle when forced to race and that they are beaten, have their tails twisted and broken, shouted at, and yanked by painful nose ropes. The severe mental and physical anguish that they are forced to endure during Kambala races is inexcusable, especially in our modern times.

In 2014, the Hon’ble Supreme Court ruled that bulls, including buffalo bulls, are not anatomically suited to racing and that inherently cruel practices – such as kambala – that subject animals to excruciating fear, pain, and suffering cannot be represented as promoting tradition and culture. The Court held that Kambala and other bull performances would violate the rights guaranteed to animals under the Constitution of India and The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act of 1960. However, despite the Judgment, the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Second Karnataka Amendment) Act, 2017, was passed to allow kambala.

Please use your authority to stop cruel kambala races.

Sincerely,

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