Above: Photo courtesy Wikimedia

Following jallikattu in Tamil Nadu, another animal sport has been taken out of the ambit of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act. With the promulgation of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Karnataka Amendment) Ordinance 2017, signed by President Pranab Mukherjee on Monday (July 3), the traditional sport of buffalo racing is legal again in Karnataka.

The sport is called kambala in the state.

A statement from the President’s office said: “The President has approved the promulgation of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Karnataka Amendment) Ordinance, 2017. Now, Kambala is officially legal in Karnataka.”

The bill has been formulated in a manner that adheres to the several sections of the cruelty act, and mentions that “no unnecessary pain or suffering” will happen to the buffaloes during the sport.

— India Legal Bureau