Hyderabad: A controversial animal experimentation facility near Hyderabad is facing mounting demands for closure following a damning government inspection that uncovered widespread abuse and regulatory violations. Palamur Biosciences, located in Telangana’s Mahabubnagar district, breeds and tests on beagles and a variety of other animals for both Indian and overseas clients.
News9 earlier reported that the facility came under intense scrutiny after a whistleblower-led exposé by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India, which included disturbing video footage and internal documents. In response, a central government-appointed inspection team conducted an emergency visit and has since recommended “immediate regulatory action… including the removal and rehabilitation of animals in order to prevent further pain and suffering,” as well as a full review of the facility’s registration and breeding licence.
Concerns over alleged efforts to suppress the report
PETA India has raised concerns over an alleged effort by the Committee for Control and Supervision of Experiments on Animals (CCSEA), which falls under the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, to suppress the report. The organisation has alleged that certain CCSEA members have ties to the animal experimentation industry, potentially creating a conflict of interest.
The inspection report, signed by Dr Mukesh Kumar Gupta of the Indian Council for Medical Research, Dr Vivek Tyagi of the Animal Welfare Board of India, and other experts, paints a grim picture of the conditions at Palamur Biosciences.
Inspection reveals over 1,200 dogs living under extremely poor conditions
Inspectors found over 1,200 animals on site, including dogs (primarily beagles), pigs, monkeys, rabbits, sheep, cows, rats and mice, far exceeding the number officially authorised. No proper inventory was available, and in some cases, animals were initially denied to be present. Many were housed in unsanitary, overcrowded and barren enclosures, suffering from visible illness or malnutrition, without any medical records or evidence of care.
Dogs were reportedly confined to filthy cages with hard, perforated floors, lacking any bedding, outdoor access or means of physical activity. Even the designated ‘rehabilitation’ area offered no reprieve, with dogs languishing in their own waste.
Minipigs were kept on grates that could injure their hooves, monkeys were restricted to narrow metal platforms without outdoor exposure, and cows, visibly underweight and without shelter stood in muddy, waterlogged pens. Shockingly, inspectors witnessed two monkeys undergoing surgical procedures with open wounds and no sedatives. The facility lacked any system to address animal anxiety, fear, or distress.
Report flags several systematic failures at Palamur Biosciences
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Absence of quarantine and disease screening protocols
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Animals reused in painful procedures without adequate recovery time
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Use of euthanasia methods without sedatives, and shortages of essential drugs
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No night-time veterinary care or staffing in animal housing areas
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Incomplete CCTV footage despite repeated requests
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Routine manhandling of animals by staff
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Disorganised and superficial record-keeping
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Failure to screen wild-caught monkeys for Kyasanur Forest Disease, posing a risk to public health
Summing up the situation, the inspectors wrote: “The operational deficiencies observed at PBPL [Palamur Biosciences] are not isolated incidents but indicative of entrenched structural, procedural and ethical failures… The situation demands urgent attention, particularly with respect to the removal and rehabilitation of animals to prevent further pain, distress or suffering.”
PETA India calls for urgent rescue & rehabilitation of animals
Dr Anjana Aggarwal, Scientist and Research Policy Advisor at PETA India, commented: “It has been almost 15 days since egregious cruelty to animals at Palamur was reported and over 10 since the government-appointed inspectors visited, yet the damning report has yet to be acted upon.
PETA India calls for urgent rescue and rehabilitation of animals at Palamur Biosciences into loving homes and sanctuaries, and an end to their breeding and experiments on animals.”
PETA India has also urged the CCSEA to revoke Palamur Biosciences’ licence and enable the immediate release of all animals housed there. Several animal welfare groups have already expressed willingness to assist with rescue and rehabilitation efforts.