Rodent welfare in the name of prevention of cruelty to animals?
According to Animal Welfare Board of India, Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairy, Govt of India letter No. 9-16/2019-20-PCA of 16th Nov 2020, killing rodents using glue traps is inhuman, as it inflicts unnecessary pain and suffering to the rodents. It is a recurring cruel practice. And this is against the Prevention of cruelty to Animals Act 1960. Rodents cause damage to crops as well as in storage of food grains. I remember probably in 1970s my relative telling me that their wheat crop was totally destroyed by rodents. I am not sure of status of rodents causing losses in agriculture or carrying diseases to the humans. Surely, way back in 1994 that we had plague in Surat and some people died, part of the blame was on rodents spreading disease. I know of one method of trapping rodents by baiting them in the wire-mesh cage and releasing them some distance from your home. It is humane, but unethical and disrespectful of fellow citizens for whom you may be creating a new nuisa