A study was carried out to assess the current status of animal cruelty, criminology and prosecution in Nepal. A questionnaire survey was carried out among the veterinarians of Nepal. Collection of reported data and observation of cruelty cases was done in various sites of Nepal and a search of international data about animal cruelty, criminology and prosecution was also carried out. Multiple cases of animal cruelty/abuse were found. The present study showed that human violence against animal was found in increasing trend. Most cases of animal cruelty included beating (8.46%), run over with vehicle (10.65%), emaciated (8.46%) and malnourished (9.41%) animals, kicking (7.52%), poisoning (7.52%) while fewer cases were of animal sexual abuse (0.62%), hanging the animals (2.51%), dragging (3.13%) and shooting (3.13%). Other types of cruelty included pouring of boiling water in the body of animals, religious sacrifices, brutal slaughtering of animals, leaving animals in the streets etc. Hunting of wild animals, animal trafficking and living condition of farm animals were other sort of cruelty issues highly prevalent in our society. In this study, male represented the higher number of animal abuser than female and the respondents designated as a government officer represented the higher number of abuser. Numbers of animal welfarists are high in comparison to animal rightists. Reported cases of animal cruelty and prosecution are few. Appropriate recommendations were made targeting the remodeling of animal protection law, public education and awareness to all concerned step holders.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
1.1 Background
1.1.1 Animal Cruelty
1.1.2 Criminology
1.1.3 Prosecution
1.2 Justification of Study
1.3 Objective
1.3.1 General Objective
1.3.2 Specific Objective
3. Methodology
3.1 Initial Scoping Phase
3.2 Cross-Referencing
3.3 Data Collection
3.3.1 Questionnaire Survey
3.3.2 Site Survey
3.3.3 Observation
3.4 Data Analysis
4. Results and discussion
4.1 Response
4.1.1 Gender of the Respondents
4.1.2 Work Designation of Respondents
4.2 Analysis of the Data through tabulation
4.3 Discussion
4.3.1 Survey and Interview
4.3.1. 1 National Forensic Science Laboratory, Khumaltar, Lalitpur
4.3.1.2 Hospitals
4.3.1.3 Traffic Police Office
4.3.1.4 Police Stations
4.3.1.5 Interview of the Lawyer (Court)
4.3.2 Observation
5. Conclusions
Research Objectives and Focus Areas
This study aims to assess the current landscape of animal cruelty, associated criminological factors, and the status of legal prosecution in Nepal. By gathering empirical data through surveys among veterinarians and site observations at key institutions, the research seeks to identify systemic gaps in law enforcement and public awareness to provide actionable recommendations for legal and societal improvements.
- Prevalence and common types of animal abuse in Nepal.
- Evaluation of existing animal protection laws and their enforcement.
- Knowledge, attitudes, and reporting practices of veterinarians regarding animal cruelty.
- Assessment of institutional responses to animal crime, including police and judicial handling.
Excerpt from the Book
1.1.1 Animal Cruelty
Cruelty to animals, also called animal abuse or animal neglect, is the human infliction of suffering or harm upon non-human animals, for purposes other than self-defense or survival. Any act that contributes to the pain or death of an animal or that otherwise threatens the welfare of an animal (Agnew, 1998). Ascione (1993) defined animal cruelty as socially unacceptable behaviour that intentionally causes unnecessary pain, suffering, or distress to and/ or death of an animal. Especially, Animal Cruelty is categorized into two types: Neglect and Intentional Cruelty.
Neglect is the most common type of animal cruelty (Arluke, 2006; Carlisle-Frank and Flanagan, 2006; Patronek, 2008; Solot, 1997). Neglect occurs when an owner fails to provide the animal with adequate food, water, shelter, or veterinary care. Severely restricting an animal’s movement full-time by tethering it to a stationary object or keeping the animal in a cage is the most common, and most visible, type of neglect.
Intentional cruelty is when an individual purposely inflicts physical harm or injury on an animal, such as deliberately maiming, torturing, sexual abuse or even killing an animal. It can be usually an indicator of a serious human behavior problem.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: This chapter establishes the background, definitions of animal categories, importance of animals, and the current pathetic conditions of animal welfare in Nepal, while stating the research objectives.
3. Methodology: This section details the three-tier review process, which included literature scoping, cross-referencing, questionnaire surveys for veterinarians, site surveys, and direct observations.
4. Results and discussion: This comprehensive chapter presents the analyzed survey data, including respondent demographics and findings on abuse prevalence, alongside discussions with relevant professionals and field observations.
5. Conclusions: The final chapter summarizes the study's findings on the increasing trend of animal violence and provides clear suggestions for legal reform, public education, and improved investigation training.
Keywords
Animal cruelty, animal abuse, criminology, animal law, prosecution, animal welfare, animal rights, veterinary survey, Nepal, neglect, intentional cruelty, animal crime, forensic science, public awareness, animal protection.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research paper?
The paper focuses on the current state of animal cruelty in Nepal, examining the intersection between animal abuse, criminological perspectives, and the legal prosecution of such offenses.
What are the primary thematic areas covered?
The primary themes include the classification of animal cruelty, the status of animals in Nepal, legal frameworks for animal protection, and the attitudes of veterinary professionals towards these issues.
What is the ultimate objective of the study?
The goal is to assess the current status of animal cruelty, criminology, and prosecution in Nepal, and to offer evidence-based recommendations to mitigate animal abuse.
Which scientific methodology was utilized?
The study employed a three-tier methodology: initial scoping of literature, cross-referencing academic sources, and primary data collection through questionnaire surveys, site visits, and institutional interviews.
What topics are explored in the main body?
The main body investigates specific cases of animal cruelty, respondent demographics, the perceived adequacy of existing laws, and findings from interviews with forensic experts, police, and legal professionals.
Which keywords characterize this work?
Key terms include animal cruelty, criminology, animal law, prosecution, animal welfare, and animal rights, among others.
How do respondents perceive the current animal protection laws?
Over 95% of respondents feel that current punishment amounts and durations are insufficient, and over 97% advocate for the remodeling of existing animal laws.
What role does the National Forensic Science Laboratory play according to the research?
The laboratory examines samples related to illegal activities involving wild animals; however, researchers noted that issues with improper packing and labeling of samples often hinder effective legal prosecution.
Are there specific observations regarding police response in Nepal?
Police officers indicated that data on animal cruelty is rarely recorded, as most incidents are settled through mutual understanding between the involved parties rather than formal legal processes.
- Quote paper
- Prabhakar Shah (Author), 2013, Animal cruelty, criminology and prosecution. An assessment on animal abuse and animal law in Nepal, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/267335
