Shilpa Shetty - PETA supporter:

In March 2006 various sources reported Shetty's joining PETA as part of an advertising campaign against the use of wild animals in circuses. According to a PETA India press release, Shetty is a long-time PETA supporter and has assisted the campaign by posing for photographs in a figure-hugging tiger costume. She explained that her crouching in a cage was uncomfortable during the photoshoot, but that her discomfort was insignificant compared to the pain suffered by the creatures. "

"These once dignified animals only leave their cages, which are barely larger than the size of their bodies, for a few minutes each day to be forced into the ring to perform tricks which make no sense and are upsetting to them. The best way to help animals suffering in circuses is to boycott the circus".

Shetty revealed in a later interview that she felt strongly about this cause and that she was appalled to hear of the cruel treatment suffered by such animals. "I thought I should stop that. If I can make a little difference to their lives, why not go for it?

Shilpa Shetty Shoots for PETA:

In a new ad for PETA India's new youth arm, petaDishoom, Shilpa Shetty – stripped down to stripes – crouches in a small cage with a look of despair on her face to illustrate the misery of animals confined to circuses. Shot by ace photographer Atul Kasbekar, the ad encourages the actor's legions of fans to boycott circuses with animal acts. Shilpa makes the case dressed in a figure-hugging bodysuit, her make-up compliments of glamour make-up artist Cory Walia. The ad features the tagline "Beaten, Lonely and Abused – Boycott the Circus" and a plea for compassionate readers to get the facts and more information at www.petaDishoom.com.

This month marks the anniversary of the gruesome incident in which 21 animals, including sea lions, dogs and cats, belonging to the Russian circus burned alive in Mumbai. Shilpa is reminding everyone who might be tempted to go to a circus that animals in circuses are sorely abused, often inadequately fed, and routinely hit with whips and rods and even electric shock pods to make them obey commands for a few moments of unenlightened public amusement.

Shilpa and PETA remind people that circuses portray a distorted view of wildlife. In contrast to the glittery image the circus tries to project, the lives of animals who are forced to perform repetitious, confusing and often painful tricks are miserable. Animals do not naturally ride bicycles, stand on their heads or jump through rings of fire, so circus handlers use whips, electric shock prods and other tools of torture to train them. Circus animals work based on fear, knowing they will be hurt badly if they do not obey. Tigers do not jump through rings of fire in the wild – they are afraid of fire and avoid it desperately. Bears may have their noses broken during training or their paws burned to force them to stand and walk on their hind legs, and their toes are beaten in training if they do not "dance". Even the animals' access to basic necessities such as clean water, sufficient food and vital veterinary care is often ignored or severely limited.

"By no means was I comfortable during the photo shoot crouched in that small cage", explains Shilpa Shetty, a longtime PETA supporter. "But what were a few fleeting moments of discomfort for me compared to what life must be like for the precious animals held captive in the circus? These once dignified animals only leave their cages, which are barely larger than the size of their bodies, for a few minutes each day to be forced into the ring to perform tricks which make no sense and are upsetting to them. The best way to help animals suffering in circuses is to boycott the circus".

Using bears, monkeys, tigers, panthers and lions in circuses is not only cruel, it is also in violation of a 1998 Central Government notification, which was upheld in May 2001 by the Supreme Court. The notification specifically bans circus owners from training or exhibiting the five named species, yet circuses throughout India continue to display these animals in direct contravention of the law.

"The use of animals in entertainment has already been restricted or banned in Sweden, Finland, Switzerland and Denmark, and in England, circuses with animal acts are often denied public space", says PETA India Chief Functionary Anuradha Sawhney. "Several local governments in the US have also banned exotic-animal acts, and if these places can move towards animal-free circuses, why can’t India?"

Other celebrities who have helped PETA spotlight cruelty to animals used in entertainment include Isha Koppikar, Amisha Patel, Rahul Khanna, Rahul Dev, Alec Baldwin, Kim Basinger and Goldie Hawn, amongst others. PETA India's new program, called petaDishoom, gives young people a fun foundation to help "dishoom" animal abuse by letting them know what their favourite stars are doing to help animals; offering them amazing prizes like iPods, mobile phones and more for showing compassion to animals; and providing resources to youth who wish to help animals.