The 'English Vinglish' actress Priya Anand is all set to be the new face of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) as their latest ad campaign focuses on giving birds the freedom they are meant to have.
Posing for photographer Sunder Ramu in a white Chaitanya Rao piece, she holds a bird cage and a sign that reads “Let Birds Fly Free. Don’t Cage Them.”
Birds are born to fly free, and no one should steal their freedom from them, says Priya.
“When they are captured and put into cages, smart, sentient, fun-loving birds become depressed and withdrawn. If you love birds, enjoy them by observing them in nature, where they belong. Remember: birds enjoy their freedom as much as you enjoy yours,” she said. In nature, birds engage in social activities, such as taking sand baths, playing hide-and-seek, dancing, building nests with their mates and nurturing their young. “When they’re caged, these same vibrant animals become depressed and withdrawn. They often over-preen themselves to the point of mutilation. Some people force birds to endure wing-clipping so that the they cannot fly away. Yet, flying is as natural and as important to birds as walking is to humans,” explained a representative of PETA.
Keeping birds in cages is both cruel and illegal, she said, adding, “The government has banned the capture and trade of all 1,200 species of indigenous birds in India. Despite ban, birds, including munias, mynas, parrots, owls, hawks, peacocks, parakeets and other species, are openly sold in markets.”