India's Supreme Court on Monday ordered the removal of tens of thousands of stray dogs from the capital, citing public safety concerns after a surge in dog bites.

India is home to millions of stray dogs and deadly attacks, particularly on children and the elderly, are regularly reported by the city's media.

At least 60,000 stray dogs live on the streets of Delhi, according to India's Livestock Census of 2012, the most recent data available.

Some suggest that number to be now far higher, with large rival dog packs patrolling parks and residential neighbourhoods across the city.

The country accounts for more than a third of global rabies deaths, according to the World Health Organization, a crisis exacerbated by a lack of sterilisation programmes and legal restrictions on canine culling.

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