An academic paper titled The Permissible and the Perverse: Indian Geographies of Interspecies Sex is sparking debate by suggesting that sexual interactions between humans and animals can be viewed as normal, depending on social and cultural circumstances.
The paper was written by Dave Naisargi from the University of Toronto, and Gupta Alok Hisarwala from the National Law School of India University.
Naisargi is an anthropology professor, whose research focuses on animalism in India.
Hisarwala profile says he is a lawyer, activist, and researcher working on LGBT and animal rights.
The paper examines how society decides which human-animal interactions are tolerated or condemned.
They argue that public acceptance or rejection of both violence and sexual relations with animals depends on physical spaces and cultural norms.
For instance, slaughterhouses are often deemed acceptable locations for acts of violence against animals.
Meanwhile, violent acts against animals in a home can be seen in a much different light.
The paper focuses on India, where the authors say religious and cultural beliefs, especially those of upper-caste Hindus, can shape whether interspecies sex is labelled as permissible or perverse.
They point out that some communities may condone such behaviour if it aligns with certain traditions or occurs in socially approved settings.
The paper puts forward a different understanding of human and animal sexual contact.
The authors suggest that societies consider the natural desires of all species instead of relying solely on human-based moral rules.
They say this viewpoint promotes a more open understanding of what motivates humans and animals to seek physical closeness.
While the study calls for greater acceptance of interspecies intimacy, they warn that normalization could conflict with ethical standards and animal welfare regulations.