Animal Rights Activists Rally in Pune on Women’s Day to Raise Awareness on Female Animals
Reported by Shoaib Tadvi
Shivajinagar, 8th March 2026: Around 70 animal rights activists gathered in Pune on Saturday to raise awareness about what they described as the exploitation of female animals in various industries during an International Women’s Day demonstration titled “Beyond Species: Justice for All Females.”
The protest, organized by the youth-led collective Pune Animal Liberation, began at 4.30 pm. Organisers said the event aimed to draw attention to the use of female animals in industries such as food, fashion and entertainment.
Participants used various forms of expression, including chalk art, street skits, poems, songs, speeches and slogan chanting, to convey their message and engage with the public. Activists said the activities were intended to highlight issues related to the treatment of female animals and to encourage discussion about ethical practices.
Activist Pravin Choudhary said the protest aimed to question systems that activists believe exploit vulnerable beings. He said activists see similarities between historical attitudes toward the exploitation of women and current practices involving animals.
Another activist, Twinkle, said that while International Women’s Day focuses on women’s rights, activists also wanted to draw attention to the conditions faced by female animals used for products such as milk, eggs, meat and fashion materials.
Activist Aarya Kamle said industries such as dairy and egg production depend largely on the reproductive systems of female animals. She said the group advocates ending such practices rather than focusing on making them more humane.
During the demonstration, activists also presented three key demands. These included a call for governments to recognise bodily autonomy for all females and criminalise systemic reproductive exploitation, a request for businesses to shift toward ethical and plant-based supply chains, and an appeal to consumers to adopt lifestyle choices that avoid products derived from the exploitation of female animals.
The demonstration concluded with activists encouraging the public to consider vegan lifestyles and to engage in broader discussions about ethical treatment of animals.
