PETA activists highlight meat production’s impact on wildlife in Hyderabad

Activists from PETA India, Vegans of Telangana and Citizens for Animals staged a demonstration at Hyderabad’s Dharna Chowk on World Food Day. Wearing animal-themed body paint, they urged people to go vegan, citing habitat destruction and biodiversity loss

Hyderabad: Activists from PETA India, Vegans of Telangana and Citizens for Animals staged a demonstration at Dharna Chowk near Indira Park on the occasion of World Vegetarian Awareness Month and World Food Day.

The activists painted themselves as a tiger, a zebra and a giraffe and held placards reading, “Eating Meat Contributes to Species Extinction – Try Vegan” and “Forests Are Destroyed for Meat Production – Go Vegan”.

The demonstration aimed to draw public attention to how animal agriculture contributes to biodiversity loss, destroys wildlife habitats and threatens global food security, according to a PETA press release.

“Vast swathes of beautiful forests are being destroyed to clear land for animals raised for meat, eggs, and dairy, and for the crops grown to feed them,” said Apeksha Tamane, campaigns coordinator at PETA India.

The activists said India has one of the world’s largest meat-free populations, with roughly 10 per cent identifying as vegan. Switching to a plant-based diet can reduce individual carbon footprints and spare animals, while also lowering the risk of heart disease, diabetes and certain cancers, the press release said. It added that the shift aligns with United Nations calls for more sustainable diets to combat climate change.