India ranks better in Animal Protection Index 2020, but still needs improvements

India is one of the better-performing countries in the global Animal Protection Index 2020, created by international animal welfare charity, World Animal Protection.

New Delhi [India] March 12 (/NewsVoir): India is one of the better-performing countries in the global mal Protection Index 2020, created by international mal welfare charity, World mal Protection.

The mal Protection Index (API) aims to showcase where countries are doing well, and where they fall short on mal welfare policy and legislation, so they can take steps to improve.

The index ranks countries from A (being the highest score) to G (being the weakest score) according to their policy and legislation.

India has attained a C ranking in the index, along with countries like New Zealand, Mexico, France, and Spain.

However, there is room for improvement in many domains related to mal welfare. For instance, mals used in scientific research are exempt from cruelty considerations in the Prevention of mal Cruelty Act 1960.

Furthermore, there is a lack of regulations regarding the rearing of farm mals, notably with unregulated urban dairy systems developing quickly with very poor welfare standards.

"India has strong laws on the protection of mals; however, the welfare of dairy mals is yet to part of any such law. Cows are considered to be sacred in India but millions of cows and buffaloes continue to suffer in cruel conditions every day in dairies within our cities. This index is a good reminder of the work that still needs to done to protect every mal", said Gajender K Sharma, Country Director, World mal Protection, India.

New research reveals poor mal welfare practices, in the trade and farming of wild mals and livestock, which provides the perfect breeding ground for viruses to mutate and spread. If mal welfare laws aren't improved, we face the risk of disease outbreaks becoming more frequent. This is just one of the ways that governments are failing to protect mals and people, says the report.

World mal Protection assessed the mal welfare policies and legislation of 50 countries and clearly identified a worrying lack of adequate mal welfare laws. It is pushing for urgent improvements.

The index will help countries to put in place good mal welfare practices such as keeping mals clean, healthy and with sufficient space to exhibit natural behaviours.

"Good mal welfare practices for domesticated mals can help prevent disease, by keeping mals clean, healthy, and providing sufficient space for them to exhibit natural behaviour. Ending the commercial trade in wild mals, that have been taken from their natural habitats or intensively bred in captivity, will reduce the serious human health hazards associated with moving stressed, sick and injured wildlife through international trade routes", said Kelly Dent, Global Director of External Engagement at World mal Protection.

Sweden, the United Kingdom, and Austria are rated with the highest scores, which is encouraging. More countries need to follow their lead and World mal Protection is calling on all governments to immediately improve their mal welfare standards, not only for the benefit of mals but also to reduce the risk to public health.

World mal Protection last year launched a 60-second film to highlight the many ways that we are failing to protect mals, asking the question: does the life of an mal mean nothing at all? A question, we need to ask the governments which currently lack the most basic mal welfare policies.

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( With inputs from ANI )