Faq's

Ans: Under Section 2 (h), of The Performing Animals Rules, 2001Performing animal is an animal which is used at or for the purpose of any entertainment including a film or an equine event to which the public are admitted.

Ans: The animal owner having animals to be performed in Films or for other entertainment purposes should apply online for registrationof animals after login at http://awbi.gov.in.

Ans: The copy of the documents i.e.fitness certificate by a registered veterinarian (VCI/SVC), Self-declaration, copy of the photo identity / address proof etc. are to be uploaded alongwith the online application.

Ans: A sum of Rs.5000/- is to be submitted online alongwith the application for registration of animals by the animal owner. The link and other details may be seen in the online application.

Ans: Yes, each animal owner will be provided with a unique registration number.

Ans: After obtaining registration number, the animal owner shall submit monthly report and can edit/ update the details of registered animals.

Ans: The monthly report alongwith the fitness certificate of animals should be submitted on or before 7th of every month.

Ans: The producer will apply for Pre-shoot Permission along with the details of registered animal owner.

Ans: The following documents are required for obtaining the Pre-shoot permission: The Pre-shoot online filled application. Details of the animal owner(s) and nos. of animals (including wild animals) to be performed. Details of animals to be used through Computer Graphics/ Animations, Stock Shot, Foreign Shots and Background / Natural Shots. Place, distance from the place and date & time of shooting (As per timeline fixed) Part-A fitness certificate of the animals (In the prescribed format). The story synopsis of the animals used. Consent letter of Animal Owner (In the prescribed format). Self declaration of the Producer (In the prescribed format).

Ans: The producer has to inform the exact date of shooting of each Film/ Ad-film/ TV-Serial etc at the time of submission of online application of pre-shoot permission. In case of change of date of shooting after permission, the producer has to Change the date of shooting in the online portal on click of Change date of Shooting.

Ans: The following documents are required for obtaining the certificate: The Post –shoot online filled application. Part-B fitness certificate of the animal used (In the prescribed format). Self declaration of the Producer (In the prescribed format). URL of video of Animal scene shoot to be telecast and total scene duration. Transportation Certificate under Rule 96, if applicable. Details of additional animals through Computer Graphics/ Animations, Stock Shot, Foreign Shots and Background / Natural Shots for which pre-shoot permission has not been obtained.

Ans: There is no need to send the hardcopies of the documents of Pre-shoot or Certificate to the Board.

Ans: Yes, if more than 10 animals are owned /used by the animal owner then a permanent Veterinary Doctor should be employed to see the healthof the animals. The details of the same along with the ID proof should be provided by the animal owner.

Ans: Yes, the permission from the Wildlife Department / Chief Wildlife Warden of the respective States / UTs is required for shooting the animals in forest area or housed in the recognised Zoo/Snake Park.

Ans: The Fitness Certificate of the dogs alongwith the dog vaccination record is necessary for registration of dogs.

Ans: The animal owner should submit the documents as per the Guidelines of the Ministry of Environment and Forests dated 8.1.2008 for the Elephants. The detailed circular is available in the website of the Board.

Ans: The wild animals like Lion, Tiger, Panther, Monkey and Bear are banned as performing animals.

Ans: The Bull is also banned as performing animals.

Ans: The production house should declare before or at the end of the film that “No Cruelty was inflicted on animals during the shooting of this Film”

Ans: The first and foremost condition is the registration of the person seeking permission to train and exhibit. Rule 3 of The Performing Animals (Registration) Rules, 2001, provides for Application of registration stating that any person desirous of training or exhibiting performing animals has to apply for registration to the prescribed authority. Without being registered such a person is not allowed to exhibit or train any animal as a performing animal. Apart from this, Rule 8 of The Performing Animals (Registration) Rules, 2001 lays down general conditions for registration, "the prescribed authority while granting registration may impose such terms and conditions as it deems appropriate and may impose the following conditions in granting registration namely: Every owner who has ten or more such performing animals shall have a veterinarian as a regular employee for their care, treatment and transport; The owner shall not transport such animals by road continuously for more than 8 hours and except in cages admeasuring as specified in the fifth schedule; The owner shall ensure proper watering and feeding halts during such transportation; The owner after transportation shall provide feeding and retiring enclosures in respect of the animals specified in the sixth schedule; The owner shall ensure that any animal is not inflicted unnecessary pain or suffering before or during or after its training or exhibition; The owner shall not deprive the animal of feed or water in order to compel the said animal to train or perform any trick; The owner shall train an animal as a performing animal to perform an act in accordance with its basic natural instinct; The owner shall not make a performing animal perform if it is sick or injured or pregnant; The owner shall ensure that no sudden loud noise is deliberately created within the vicinity of any performing animal or bring an animal close to fire, which may frighten the animal; The owner in case the performing animal is to be exhibited under artificial light, the overall intensity of such light shall not be more than 500 LUX; The owner shall not subject the animals to any action, which may either kill or injure or use the animals in scenes, which may cause injury to the animals; The owner shall not use any tripping device or wires or pitfalls for such animals; The owner shall not expose any animal to either burning fire or to fire accidents; The owner shall not keep any animal including horses in close proximity while shooting scenes involving explosives or other loud noises; The owner shall ensure that props such as spears, nails, splinters, barbed wires and other such props shall not cause injury to the animals during performance; The owner shall ensure that equines are not made to walk on hard surfaces without being shoed and shall further ensure that the animals are not used in downhill slides or rodeo slide stops without proper skid and hock boots; The owner of any equine shall not use any whip other than shock absorbing whip which has been scientifically tested to proved that it will not cause weals, bruising or other damage to the horse and subject to the condition that (a) the whip shall not haveraised binding, stitching seam or flap. (b) the whip shall be used by licensed jockeys only. (c) the owner shall also ensure that the whip is not used other than either on the quarters in either the forehand or the backhand position or down the shoulder in the backhand position or use the whip with the arm above shoulder height. (d) the whip shall not be used more than 3 times in a race; The owner shall ensure that the animal is not used on floors that are very smooth without the use of non-skidding mats; The owner shall ensure that a large gathering of animals is not allowed in such a way, which may cause or result in a stampede to the animals; The owner shall ensure that the animal is not made or incited to fight against other animal and shall further ensure that sedatives or tranquillizers or steroids or any other artificial enhancers are not administered to or inserted in any animal except the anaesthesia by a veterinary doctor for the purpose of treatment of an injured or sick animal; The owner shall ensure that the animal shall not be transported or be kept or confined in cages and receptacles, which do not measure in height, length or breadth as specified under the transport of Animals Rules, 1978, the Recognition of Zoo Rules, 1992 or under any other Act, rule or order for this purpose; The owner shall ensure that the animal is not continuously used for excessive number of takes in shooting a film without providing adequate rest to the animal and in the event of a snake being used it shall not be made to ingest any substances or made to crawl across tarred or any other heatened surface and shall not be contorted to wrestle. The owner shall ensure that while using an animal in shooting a film, the fight sequence shall not be shot in any livestock holding area including poultry area and shall further ensure that no birds are shown in cages; The owner shall inform the prescribed authority at least four weeks in advance informing the place, date and time of the actual making of the film wherein the animal is to be used; Persons desirous of transporting horses from one place to another shall adhere to the following minimum norms to enhance conditions of travel as also safety of the horses, namely:- No horse shall be tied up in such a way that his head and neck movements are unnaturally restricted while travelling. All horses must be watered at least every four hours and provided adequate ration of hay during the journey lasting more than eight hours. Adequate ventilation and free flow of fresh air in the vehicle shall be ensured during transport. (d) Rubber mats shall preferably be used for flooring instead of straw bedding. Horses shall not be transported within twenty four hours of having raced. No horse shall be raced, where the period of journey exceeds six hours, unless twenty four hours have elapsed since completion of the travel”.

Ans: Yes, Section 23 of the above mentioned Act provides procedure for registration. There are five conditions that need to be fulfilled with regard to the registration of performing animals. Every person desirous of exhibiting or training any performing animal has to make an application in the prescribed form, to the prescribed authority and on payment of the prescribed fee. An application for registration contains such particulars as to the animals and as to the general nature of the performances in which the animals are to be exhibited or for which they are to be trained and the particulars so given shall be entertained in the register maintained by the prescribed authority. The prescribed authority shall give to every person whose name appears on the register kept by them, a certificate of registration in the prescribed form containing the particulars entered in the register. Every register is open for inspection by any person on payment of the prescribed fee. And the person whose name is entered in the register, is entitled, on making an application for the purpose, to have the particulars entered in the register with respect to him varied, and where any such particulars are so varied, the existing shall be cancelled and a new certificate will be issued.

Ans: The Prescribed Authority is the Animal Welfare Board of India, which is established by the Central Government.

Ans: Section 26 of The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 list the acts that amounts offences with regard to performing animals. Section 26 says that if any person Not being registered exhibits or trains any performing animal; Or Being registered under this Act, exhibits or trains any performing animal with respect to which, or in a manner with respect to which, he is not registered Exhibits or trains as a performing animal, any animal which is not to be used for the purpose of exhibition Obstructs or Wilfully delays any person or police officer from entry and inspecting the premises where the performing animals are kept Conceals any animals with a view to avoiding such inspection Any person found guilty of such offences will be punishable on conviction with fine which may extend to five hundred rupees, or with imprisonment which may extend to three months or with both. The animal will be confiscated and the person will not be allowed to keep an animal again.

Ans: No. Section 27 of The Prevention of Cruelty to Animal Acts, 1960 acts as an exemption clause. It permits the training of animals for bonafide military or police purposes. However, Section 11 of The Prevention of Cruelty to Animal Acts, 1960 applies to those animals too. It has to be kept in mind that no animals can be treated cruelly or in a way that harms or injures them.

Ans: Yes. If it comes to the knowledge of the Police officer that the training or exhibition of any performing animal has been accompanied by unnecessary pain or suffering, Section 25 of The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, provides that any police officer not below the rank of sub-inspector may enter at all reasonable times and inspect any premises in which any performing animals are being trained or exhibited or kept for training or exhibition and ask for the certificate of registration from the trainer or exhibitor. Section 26 states that anyone who – • Obstructs or wilfully delays any person or police officer from entry and inspecting the premises where the Performing Animals are kept • Conceals any animals with a view to avoiding such inspection will be punishable on conviction with a fine, which may extend to five hundred rupees, or with imprisonment, which may extend to three months or with both.