Holding placards that said 'AIIMS imprisons animals in cages for ages', the members of PETA India demanded that AIIMS release the animals in approved sanctuaries and asked the institute to switch to non-animal research methods.
"The monkeys held by AIIMS have done nothing wrong, yet they seem to have been given life sentences with no chance of parole. The least that AIIMS can do for these abused animals is to release them in a sanctuary where they can be truly rehabilitated," Poorva Joshipur, chief functionary PETA India, said.
PETA India also informed that video footage taken inside AIIMS’ Central Animal Facility shows the poor condition of animals at the AIIMS campus.
"Sick and injured animals, including rabbits, suffered from an infectious skin disease and wounded guinea pigs and rats were left untreated. As for monkeys they were living in tiny cages that were barren and rusty," Joshipura added.
Published 28 April 2011, 11:27 IST