Victoria horses in Mumbai have now been hospitalised over severe injuries.
Overworked, underfed and forced to haul carriages in Mumbai, giving rides to hundreds daily. Working under these grueling conditions, four Victoria horses in Mumbai have now been hospitalised over severe injuries. The horses were starving, dehydrated and had raw wounds across their body.
"On an average we get 10 such horses every month and once they get well they go back to the carriage owners. The injuries and dehydration is common especially during summer. Often the poor animal has to suffer to feed its owner," said Colonel (Dr) JC Khanna, the Secretary of overall in charge at The Bombay Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
Move this photo around to see the condition of the Victoria Horses.
Victoria carriages that have been plying the streets of Mumbai since British Colonial Era, were ordered by the Bombay High Court last year to phase out by June 2016. But in April 2016, the Supreme Court allowed carriage owners to operate for six more months, ordering the state government to rehabilitate carriage owners.
Activists allege government inaction the key reason why the horses are still at risk.
"In Delhi, the carriage owners and drivers were given licence to ply auto rickshaws. Same way, the state government must come up with a quick implementation without causing risk or further injuries," said Bhuvaneshwari Gupta, Associate Manager - outreach campaigns at animal welfare organisation PETA.
Carriage owners who still wait for government rehabilitation defend their livelihood and say the horses are well cared for.
Watch this 360 degree video of these horses while are being rehabilitated at the Bombay Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals hospital in Parel.