Animals at AIIMS get PETA support

A man dressed like a monkey distributed bananas to passers-by in Connaught Place on Friday afternoon.

A man dressed like a monkey distributed bananas to passers-by in Connaught Place on Friday afternoon.

HT Image

It was a People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) activist trying to draw attention to the abuse of animals used for testing at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS).

HT had reported about the mental and physical abuse of monkeys, mice, guinea pigs and sheep at the animal facility at AIIMS (‘Animal abuse at AIIMS’, October 5, 2008). But despite the HT report, the animals were not rescued or rehabilitated. Since then, PETA has been campaigning for the rescue of the animals.

“We have written several letters to AIIMS and to the Committee for Purpose of Control and Supervision on Experiments on Animals, which directed us to the health ministry. Each time, one directs us to the other,” said N.G. Jayasimha, an animal activist.