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AI’s chairman and managing director Rohit Nandan has now informed Civil Aviation Secretary K N Srivastava that the order has been “subsequently withdrawn”, The Indian Express has learnt.
The Sunday Express had reported on October 21 about the August 23 circular issued by the Manager, Cargo (Ops) in Mumbai informing duty managers, departure supervisers and others “that Air India does not carry ‘Live Animals for experimental purposes’” within the country or abroad. It sought “strict compliance” with the circular.
AI’s decision had enraged the scientific community.
Tests on animals are routine in several disciplines, including basic biology, physiology and drug research. The ban on flying animals would have hit important ongoing research. Scientists were especially upset that AI had acted unilaterally on a matter of such wide-ranging implications. After several top scientists wrote to the government, secretary Srivastava asked AI to explain the circumstances of its decision.
In his reply to Srivastava, AI CMD Nandan has said: “Air India was approached by PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals), India, and informed about the experiments being conducted on animals. All major airlines like Lufthansa, British Airways, Qantas, Cathay Pacific, Virgin Atlantic etc have implemented a policy of not carrying animals meant for experimental purposes. In order to avoid adverse publicity which could prove detrimental to the image of Air India, a circular was issued to refrain from accepting such cargo.”
However, “the same (circular) was subsequently withdrawn and Air India continues to carry live animals for experimental purposes”, the letter said.
"The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated." Mahatma Gandhi "Of all the black crimes that Man commits against God and Creation, vivisection is the blackest."~~ Mahatma Gandhi AirIndia follow the voice of your great leader Gandhi! Please do not get mislead by lunatics called sceintists who possess NO heart, NO compassion, NO character! JAI HIND!
Animals taken from the natural environment, forced into breeding facilities and then Air India fly them to labs to endure horrific brutal experiments. Shame on you Air India!
Air India has made a very bad decision to continue transporting animals for research. Animal research is outdated, inaccurate, and unspeakably cruel. Methods that do not rely on torturing sentient beings have been developed. There is no longer any valid excuse to continue cruel animal experimentation. Air India is likely to lose more money from people with consciences refusing to fly their airline than they will gain from transporting innocent animals to their inevitable horrendous suffering and death.
Anyone who believes that Animals deserve to be abducted, exploited, tortured and murdered solely to advance the medical and scientific knowledge of the human race is a damned and evil individual. Animals did not evolve for millions of years on this Planet to be treated in this revolting way, they are living, breathing, sentient organisms that have complex emotions, social structures and are entitled to the same rights that we all so greedily enjoy. Shame on you Air India for participating in such heinous cruelty, and I pity the disgusting people here who so readily advocate this torture, I wonder how you would cope under vivisection?
Well done to Air India for standing strong against animal rights groups. Animals transported for research play a crucial part in ensuring that scientists have the means to combat the diseases which cause suffering to millions of people around the world.
Not well done at all. Subjecting innocent, sentient animals to cruel experimentation is immoral and unacceptable. Animal research is ineffective, flawed and highly questionable.
An excellent decision by Air India, I hope that more airlines follow Air India's example in supporting vital animal research that is making such a huge contribution to medical progress. The future of science in India just got brighter!
We can not decide upon other beings' lives. Respect LIFE and "IT" will respect you back.
Air India is that desperate for money? to sacrifice animals for experiments? do not fly Air India you might too be used for experiments in survival,safety and incompetence.
