Recently in Kerala district of India, a pregnant elephant died after eating a pineapple filled with firecracker, leading to a national outrage all over the India, The wild animal was nearly 15 years old (Peterson, 2020).
Just like the human rights, Animal rights also do exist. Animal Rights are all about the beliefs that animals deserve to live their lives freely without being under any human influence, use and exploitation.
Animals are being exploited by human beings in many ways like experimentation, hunting and in circuses etc. The main reason is that the human beings consider that animals are not capable enough to understand anything, that’s why they shouldn’t be given any significance like the way human beings are given.
Every individual considers himself important in his own eyes due to his/her interest being different from others. There are some pet loving people existing in this world who give their pets more importance as compared to any other human beings but it doesn’t means that they have a right to attack and assault anyone.
The chief executive of any country might be the most precious person for his own people but it doesn’t meant to have any rights for murdering people and chopping their heads off their bodies.
Similarly, if any human considers himself to be more important than domestic animals that doesn’t means that he got an approval of abusing animals. Some people utilize the religious card to justify their unreasonable holds on basic rights of animals. The fact is that religion is a personal matter for every person so we should avoid unreasonable imposition of religious beliefs on other people.
A misconception must be eliminated that animal right activists want wild animals, which are dangerous for human life, must be equally treated in a way the humans are. And also, differences between animal rights and animal welfare must be eliminated. (Lin, 2018)
Mohan Krishnan, a forestry officer, during an interview was very apologetic. He said that instead of getting her mouth and tongue injured due to explosion, she must have been worried more about her children than her hunger.
Chief Minister of Kerala confirmed during an interview that investigation was carried out and we have got one individual arrested.
Famous Bollywood actor, Akshay Kumar in an interview was very sorrowful. He called the death of the elephant “heart breaking, inhumane and unacceptable”. (Peterson, 2020)
The unique concept of animal rights began during scientific revolution of the Europe. It gained popularity during 1980s and 1990s and got accepted. Now Animal laws are taught in majority of American schools. It was argued by philosopher Rogen Scruton that animals don’t even have a capability to have any social contracts and to make moral choices, so that they can’t be declared as a beneficiary of the rights. Only human beings have a responsibility on their shoulders that’s why only human beings must have rights. Analogous argument is that using animals as resources until any unnecessary suffering is not wrong. Usually, animal rights are considered as a threat to the human beings. It was said by Wesley J Smith that human beings are in debt of animals respect and kindness but the obligations to the humanity are of greater concern. If animals are given rights then it’s more likely that dignity of human beings will be ignored and eliminated. It’s an issue but we need to go along it. There’s very much to learn about the animals and to give value to our relationship with these creatures. Therefore we should stop exploiting the animals for entertainment or getting any profit. We need to understand which problem needs to be resurrected. (Tranquilheart, 2019)
Just like human beings, animals also deserve to live freely without any problem; they also have feelings and emotions to do whatever suits them. Just because human beings fall in the category highest of all creatures doesn’t grants them any right treat the animals in a wicked manner. Animals aren’t able to express and protect themselves in a proper way so it’s the duty of the human beings to play a role of protector of these beings. In Malawi, animal rights are strictly followed. Both the court and police can exercise their powers without any hesitation to act upon the violators. If any person violated the protection of Animals Act (1970), such person will be heavily charged or imprisoned. (Lilongwe Society, 2017)
Therefore we must learn not to harm the animals’ especially domestic animals. Also we must know proper difference between welfare and rights. We must bring the animals as resources for the purpose of welfare uses.
Aysha Tahir 