PETA urges Supreme Court to ban Kambala

Mangaluru: Kambala scheduled for the year 2019-20 is in trouble as People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has filed a case against the continuance of Kambala, the traditional folk sport of buffalo race that is being organized in the slushy field which is also a part of the culture of Karnataka coastal.

Along with other animal welfare organizations and animal lovers, PETA has been fighting against Kambala for many years now. In 2014, based on the lawsuits filed by animal welfare organizations, the Supreme Court of India ordered a ban on Kambala. With the amended rules on the sport, the ban was lifted in 2017 and the sport was played in accordance with new rules set by the government in 2018.

Keeping the safety of animals in mind, some of the rules prescribed by the government were not to use cane, not to insert rope through the nose of animals, not to conduct the race when the temperature is high, not to hit the animals during the race.

PETA requested supreme court to put a stay on Kambala with reference to the video clips recorded in last years’ Kambala which indicates the violation of the rules set by the government.

Supreme court has not yet responded when the hearing for this would begin.

According to the sources, Undivided Dakshina Kannada district committee president, PR Shetty, has informed that no one would be able to stop Kambala which is already approved by the state and government.

He also alleged that the efforts of PETA are made with reference to the twisted video clips.

PR Shetty added that the efforts to organizing Kambala for this year are being made with the supervision of deputy commissioner of the district, animal husbandry department and police.