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Unbearable!

Monday, April 27, 2009

About Pics : The drinking water in the bears’ enclosure (above) is not only short in supply, but also dirty

Forget humans, even animals have good reason to be upset with the BMC. The supply of water at the city’s only zoo is so scarce that animals end up wading in dirty water. Take the case of the hippos, who spend most of their day in water. The water in the enclosure should ideally be changed twice a day say vets, but is renewed only twice a week. This makes the water contaminated as, according to veterinarians, these animals defecate in the water. Dr Yuvraj Kaginkar, hospital manager at the Bombay Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, said, “The faeces of a hippopotamus is watery and greenish. It spreads as they wag their tails. As a result, the water needs to be changed twice a day.” Sunish Subramaniam of Plants and Animals Welfare Society, added, “Animals in captivity usually live longer due to timely food supply and proper medical care.

And the average hippo has a life span of 40-50 years. “However, if a five-year-old hippo dies at the zoo, what message are we sending out?” Sunish was referring to Shakti who died last week due to respiratory failure and congestion in the lungs. It’s not just the hippos. The bears and pelicans too are suffering from shortage of water. In the bears’ enclosure, the level of water in the pond is so low that one can barely see it. Meanwhile, the bears find respite in a nearby bucket of water. One dips its hand in the bucket as it goes off to sleep. The water that the two bears are supposed to drink is also dirty. Of the three enclosures for pelicans, one had nearly run out of water and the water at the other was so dirty that visitors couldn’t help but cover their noses as the dead fish in the pond – left as food for the birds – was causing a stink.

About Pics : Water in one of the pelican enclosures is so dirty that visitors are forced to cover their noses as they walk past

However, Dr Sanjay Tripathi, veterinary officer at the BMC-run zoo, said, “The pond for the hippo has a capacity of 7,000-8,000 litres. Considering its capacity, it is not practical to change the water every day. In a bid to take maximum care, we change the water every two-three days.” Tripathi added that the water supply at the zoo was irregular. “The ponds are filled in two phases. On the first day, we fill them up to a level in which the animals can swim. On the second day, we fill them to the brim. We have different plans for different animals and the number of times the water is changed varies accordingly.” “We have detailed plans for rainwater harvesting and storage. Once it is implemented, we will not have to depend on BMC water supply.”

5-yr-old hippo dies in zoo

Mumbai, 25 April 2009

SHAKTI, A five-year-old male hippopotamus at Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Udyan (Rani Bagh) in Byculla, was found dead on Friday morning.

The Zoo now has four hippopotamus one male and three. The average life span of a healthy hippopotamus is between 35 and 40 years.

The zoo authorities could not ascertain the reason for its death.

"He was born here so I am feeling sad that he died," said a caretaker at the zoo, who used to feed Shakti. The growing heat and dehydration had affected Shakti, the caretaker said.

Dr Sanjay Tripathi, a veterinary officer at the animal hospital at Rani Bagh, said Shakti had stopped eating on Thursday and was under treatment.

Animal Welfare Board officer Sunish Subramanian said, "The death might have been because the water in the pond leading to infection."

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Disorder at the zoo

Monday, April 13, 2009
Mumbai Mirror spends a day at Byculla Zoo and finds that deer, monkeys, elephants, hyenas all suffer from a host of diseases, including skin disorders, chronic parasite infection and self-mutilation

Taking your children to the Byculla zoo is not merely a lesson about different species - it is also includes a crash course in disease. Several animals are plagued with disorders, from skin disease and chronic parasite infection to self-mutilation caused by frustration, according to Plants and Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) secretary-founder Sunish Subramaniam and People for Animals (PFA) trustee, veterinarian Dr Deepa Katyal.

Mumbai Mirror took a trip to the famous Rani Baug along with the two animal rights activists and here's what we saw…
Neglect leading to mutilation

"None of the animals look happy. Imagine how human beings would feel after living in a cage for years with nothing close to their natural habitat in the surroundings. That is how the animals feel," said Subramaniam.

Hyena
About Pics : The hyena who keeps pacing restlessly
The zoo has two hyenas, but they are kept in separate cages. While one anxiously keeps pacing back and forth in its cage (called boredom pacing), the other never steps out of its cave-like enclosure. "Hyenas are pack animals. They cannot live alone. Since the hyenas here are kept alone for years, they develop these behavioural changes. In the absence of regular monitoring, they indulge in self-mutilation. They will rub their head on the grills and the walls, which can lead to injuries. There needs to be regular monitoring machines and cameras," said Dr Katyal.

Monkey
About Pics : A red bum monkey with bald patches on its skin
The red of the trademark red bum monkeys seems to extend up the backs of some, while others have hairless patches all over their bodies. "Monkeys are very close to humans and have a habit of grooming themselves. They keep cleaning their hair by removing ticks. However, if they resort to excessive cleaning, it may lead to a condition called alopecia, a skin disorder where hair is lost in patches. The red rashes on the backs could be rashes caused by excessively scratching. The monkeys need to be cleaned regularly," said Dr Katyal.

The monkeys also need entertainment to remain sharp, explained Subramaniam. "There is one worn-out tyre in the middle of the cage. How will the monkey ever reach it? The entertainment can be something as simple as mirrors, some tyres and a couple of bars. Monkeys are intelligent, but in the absence of any form of recreation, they resort to harming themselves by violently shaking the nets on the cage," he said.

Hornbill

About Pics : A hornbill trying to pull off a piece of kite string that had got entangled in its feet
The hornbill is a double-beaked bird that makes for a unique sight. But what attracted our attention was that it was hopping about strangely, constantly rubbing its head on the ground. After zooming into some photographs we had taken, we noticed that its feet had been entwined in a piece of manja and it was trying to remove the string. No volunteer appeared in the next half hour that we stood there and the hornbill eventually managed to free himself from the string.

Skin disorders and parasites
Deer
About Pics : Crows and egrets peck at the almost-bare skin of the deer
The spotted deer, barking deer and the sambar all suffer from parasites and skin disorders. "A very good indicator is the fact that there are egrets and crows perched on the deer, constantly pecking at them. The egrets peck at ticks and often end up pecking at the flesh. This can be very troublesome and lead to wounds. The crows, on the other hand, go only for the flesh," said Dr Katyal. "The sambar suffer from bald patches on their necks; these are definite cases of skin infection."

Elephant
"Elephants' skin needs to be hydrated, but here, it is clearly dry. The elephants appeared to have rubbed themselves against rough surfaces regularly, leading to rash," said Dr Katyal.

Report to CZA
Subramaniam had conducted a raid on the zoo a couple of years ago and prepared a report highlighting the poor condition in which the animals are kept. The report was forwarded to the Central Zoo Authority (CZA) and other animal welfare groups.

"The condition has only worsened. There are no boards with descriptions against most enclosures, defeating the whole purpose of a zoo. Visitors stop before a cage for a minute and if they don't see any movement, they walk away. Others harass the animals by throwing stones, food or poking them with twigs, knocking on the glass enclosures in which the snakes are kept, and so on. They can do this because nobody is there to watch," he said.

"They do not have to spend money. They can even bring college students who work for the NSS as volunteers to man a cage for a few days. It would be good education for them, too. Considering the sorry state in which the animals are living, I will be preparing another report and sending it to the authorities," he added.

Authorities speak
Zoo veterinarian Dr Sanjay Tripathi remained evasive in his answers. Not commenting on specifics of the monkeys, hyenas or elephants, he said: "The deer are not suffering from any skin disease. They have constant hair fall. The egrets and crows are a constant problem and we have appointed a person to address this. Our education officer is concerned with the boards describing the animals and we are working on that, too," he said.
About Pics : Sunish Subramaniam from the NGO PAWS with the report he filed with the Central Zoo Authority

India TV - 18.03.09 - ACP Arjun Report

The Anti-Extortion Cell arrested three men at Bhiwandi, who were trying to sell the owls

Dogs rescued from terrace after recovery agents seal Airoli house

Wednesday, January 30, 2008 About Pics : Neighbours called PAWS-Mumbai and the police to rescue the dogs.
Two dogs got trapped in an Airoli row house after insurance company recovery agents sealed it. They were rescued on Tuesday morning after a neighbour called an animal welfare society. Ramchandra Rao and his family were made to vacate their house — as they hadn’t been repaying a loan — in a rush and didn’t have time to check on the dogs. “It was chaotic. We did not know where to go.

We usually leave our pets on the terrace as strays pose a threat when they are in the compound,” said Rajat, Ramachandra’s son. The lonely dogs barked through the night, alarming neighbours who later realised that the two had been left behind.

A neighbour called the Plant and Animal Welfare Society (PAWS)Mumbai on Tuesday morning. They helped rescue the animals. Neighbours say that Rajat had gone to the house on Monday evening and fed the dogs. “Since we had not found alternate accommodation, I could not take them with me,” Rajat said. The rescuers used a neighbour’s terrace to get to the dogs.

“We feel the insurance company must give time to families with pets... The officials must check the house before sealing it. I am sending a letter to the company,” said Suneesh Subramaniam, secretary for PAWS, Mumbai.

About Pics : Rajat with the two dogs who are now back home

This three-year-old is a certified animal activist

9 Apr 2009

MUMBAI: He has not yet started attending kindergarten, but this three-year-old is already a certified animal activist, thanks to his love for birds and animals.

Hitesh Yadav from Tulsipada in Bhandup (W) has become the youngest member and volunteer for Plant & Animals Welfare Society (PAWS), after he recently rescued two baby sparrows that had fallen from their nest. The baby birds were dehydrated due to the heat.

"Two days ago, I was surprised to see Hitesh holding two baby sparrows in his hands. He told me that they had fallen from their nest, and a cat was trying to grab them,'' said Hitesh's mother, Nirjala Yadav.

She called up Nisha Subramanian of PAWS, who put the rescued fledglings at a sparrow shelter in Bhandup. The founder and secretary of PAWS-Mumbai, Sunish Subramanian, said, "I am happy to make Hitesh a member of PAWS, as he is interested in animal rescue.”

Subramanian added that two weeks earlier, Hitesh had noticed a barn owl in distress near his home; it was disoriented due to dehydration in the summer heat. He had immediately brought it to his mother's notice.

"Hitesh now spends a lot of time at our office in Bhandup, looking at rescued animals like snakes, kites, cats and others,” said Subramanian.

In the current hot weather, PAWS-Mumbai has rescued seven kites, 15 pigeons and 15 snakes, which were suffering from heat stroke or dehydration.


About Pics : IN SAFE HANDS: Hitesh Yadav received rescued two baby sparrows that had fallen off their nest

REACH OUT TO ANIMALS IN DISTRESS
1. If you notice any bird or animal in distress, call PAWS-Mumbai on 9833480388; or email sunish9833480388@gmail.com
2. If you find an animal suffering from heat stroke, gently pick it up with a wet cloth, and place it in a cardboard box with holes for ventilation, before calling an animal rescue NGO
3. Place water bowls in your area for birds and animals

‘Rare owls? Who gives a hoot’

Saturday, March 14, 2009

Cops arrest three men for trying to sell Eurasian Eagle Owls worth lakhs. If the birds hadn’t been rescued, they would’ve been sacrificed on Holi
About Pics : Accused: Shantaram Nisal alias baba, Chetan Gole and Pranesh Patil

As recession slowly takes its toll on people and the levels of desperation soar perilously high, those in the thick of it are willing to go to any extent to cheat their way out of bankruptcy. And the latest scapegoats were three rare and protected Eurasian Eagle Owls, who were nearly sold for sacrifice on Holi, in keeping with a superstition that the blood of an owl would shower the believer with riches.

The Anti-Extortion Cell on Monday arrested three men at Bhiwandi, who were trying to sell the owls. Senior police inspector Chandrakant Joshi, who headed the team, said: “Our plainclothesmen spotted Pranesh Patil and Chetan Gole on a bike outside Kirti Hotel; the two were carrying a plastic bag. The officers, who were on the lookout following a tipoff, noticed movement inside the bag and nabbed the duo,” senior police inspector Chandrakant Joshi.

Shantaram Nisal alias Baba, 56, was arrested later. “The three men had planned to sell these owls for sacrifice on Holi,” added Joshi.

Bird lovers say the practice of sacrificing owls has long been prevalent. “It is a superstition that sacrificing owls showers the one who performs this ritual with money. And this superstition has only grown among business communities or those who deal in Commerce following recession,” says activist Adesh Shivkar. “Those who sell these owls cash in on this superstition as they know believers will shell out any amount of cash - the bigger the owl, the higher the rate. And the Eurasian Eagle owls are among the largest.”

Another activist, Sunish Subramaniam, reasons that the superstition is baseless: “On the contrary, the owl should be protected as it is the vehicle of Goddess Lakshmi. Owls eat rodents, protect our grains and, as a result, increase productivity.”

The three owls, each over two feet tall, are in the care of a veterinarian at the moment, and will soon be released at Borivli National Park.

Meanwhile, the accused have been charged under Sections 38, 39, 48, 49, 50 and 51 of the Wildlife Protection Act. They will remain in police custody till April 12.

About Pics : Eurasian Eagle owls

More to the ‘spy birds’ than meets the eye?

Friday, February 06, 2009

IB probing Pak link of men held for selling these wild birds illegally

Thane: The Anti Poaching Unit, the vigilance wing of the forest department, and a Mumbai-based NGO, has trapped a group of people for dealing with wild birds illegally.

About Pics : one bird in hand: One of the rescued birds

What's shocking is that the birds recovered belong to the same species that have been earlier used by Pakistan as spies. So what seemed like a case of the forest department trapping people to save the rare species of birds has now assumed a new dimension.

About Pics : Ashfaque (second from left) after his arrest

The Intelligence Bureau (IB) is reportedly looking whether this case is linked with Pakistan. The accused are now in police custody.

The case began with founder of PAWS, the NGO, Sunish Subramanyam registering a complaint against the website oxl.com, where the wild birds are placed for sale.
The Thane forest department took the lead and arrested two youths - Farhan Anwar Khan (24) and Mohammed Siddiqui Sayyed (25) aka Javed - on Jan 31 near Santa Cruz airport. After interrogation, the duo revealed the name of Ashfaque Yasin Mohmin (30), the main seller.

The department then trapped Ashfaque at Crawford Market on Feb 4. He has a shop there and he undertakes the illegal activity of selling rare species of birds from here.

"We got a complaint against this illegal activity after a complaint registered against the website. Zeroing in on this, we trapped the three accused. The Schedule I Part III of Wildlife Protection Act 1972 says that the birds belong to rare species and there is a ban on their sale," said Assistant Conservator of Forests Satish Phale.

Sources said that the forest department had earlier laid two traps to nab the accused, but failed. Finally, they called the officials at Santa Cruz airport and managed to nab them on Saturday night.

The sources also claimed that these are the same birds which are used by Pakistan as spies after giving rigorous training. These birds found in northern part of the India and are a rare sight in this area. It is now claimed that there is a chain of people selling such birds.

The Intelligence Bureau is now believed to be scrutinising the matter and trying to ascertain whether these men are also linked with the espionage network.

Barn owls get a new year gift of life

Sunday, January 06, 2008
Volunteers of PAWS saved five of these birds from being illegally sold, one of which died because of the heat and suffocation, and the other four survived
About Photo : These barn owls had been squeezed in this carton with no holes to facilitate breathing

For these four barn owls, the volunteers of Plant and Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) are Santa. On Sunday, volunteers from the PAWS rescued five owls that were being illegally sold at Andheri (E) by an unidentified person.

According to Sunish Subramanian of PAWS, they received the tip from an unknown caller stating that a person carrying a box containing some birds was standing near the traffic signal at Powai.

“As soon as we reached the spot, we located the person, who started running as soon as he spotted our ambulance, leaving the box on the road. There were five owls, of which one had died due to heat and suffocation, as there were no holes in the box. The rescued owls were given water and were taken to the Parel veterinary hospital,” informed Subramanian.

Factfile
Barn owls usually hatch in October, and become adults around December. In fact, many of them are usually lost or are seen dazed far from their habitat, as they are not yet confident of their surroundings. Due to this, they become an easy prey for aggressive birds such as crows during this time of the year.

Little Boy Saves Baby Sparrow

05 April – 11 April ’09
KIDDIES SECTION
About Photo : Little Hitesh Yadav who rescued two baby Sparrow

In the fast moving world when grown-ups have no time for themselves, kids show a bright path for sensitivity for birds and animals at times that sets you thinking.

Hitesh Yadav, a three year old boy found two baby sparrow fallen from their nest near his house. Hardly had the sparrow fallen they were being chased by a cat.

Hitesh’s heart moved at the sight and he chased the cat away and lifted the baby sparrows. The boy’s mother Nirjala Yadav then took the birds to PAWS-Mumbai activist Nisha Subramanian. The baby sparrows have been kept in a sparrow shelter with other rescued sparrows to be nurtured till they grow up to be released in nature.

Talking to PP Nisha said, “It is a good sign that today’s generation is showing interest in animal welfare & environment protection, which is very important in today’s world to save our Mother Earth and we want more children to be like him. It is only then we will definitely make a difference and live in harmony with nature.”

If you are an animal lover like Hitesh and ever find a bird or animal in distress; you can help the bird or animal yourself, call PAWS-Mumbai Helpline 98333480388 for guidance and become a helping hand for our voiceless creature.

70 deer to shift from Powai Park

Sunday, March 23, 2008

Captivated deer at the Powai Park will now get a new lease of life as they would be shifted in the wilds of the Tungareshwar forest

After a long period of about 40 years, the deer which were held in captive at the Dr Babasaheb Amedkar Udyan in Powai will finally be freed at the Tungareshwar Wildlife Sanctuary in Sanjay Gandhi National Park. The deer can be shifted anytime by the end of this month or early April. The callousness of various government departments was the reason for delay in the freedom of these deer who were to be released into their natural habitat two years ago.
B Majumder, chief wildlife warden, Maharashtra, informs, "We have permitted the Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) authorities to move the deer. They can start the shifting immediately. The forest department has no reservations about the process if the deer are transferred under medical supervision." Earlier, a decision to shift the deer to the forest before monsoon last year, was postponed as necessary permission weren't granted.

Regarding the shifting procedure of deer, Satish Phale, Assistant Conservator of Forest (ACF), Wildlife Division, Mumbai, says, "The government has allowed to shift the deer to Tungareshwar forests but the National Park authorities are in-charge of the shifting process. Deer are very delicate animals and may even die while shifting. Therefore, the International Union Conservation (IUC) laws has to be kept in mind while doing so. They can be only shifted under strict medication and supervision."

The Powai garden used to spend over Rs 15 lakh a year for the maintenance of these deer's. Two years back, the BMC's Hydraulic department, which manages the Powai Municipal Garden, had admitted in a letter to the conservator of forests that it does not have proper infrastructure, skilled staff and a veterinary doctor to maintain the animals, and therefore, requested permission to release the deer in the wild.

Sunish Subramaniam, Secretary of Plant and Animal Welfare Society (PAWS), had filed a Right to Information (RTI) application seeking information about the issue from various authorities like the Hydraulic Engineer and the Garden Department of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and officials from the Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP). Subramaniam, says, "The response to the RTI applications made by PAWS last year revealed that the deer had been kept in Powai Lake for 40 years without the permission of Central Zoo Authority (CZA) or the Wildlife Authority."

We have permitted the Sanjay Gandhi National Park authorities to move the deer. We have no reservations about the process if the deer are transferred under medical supervision - B Majumder, chief wildlife warden, Maharashtra

Resident rescues four owls

25. 02. 2006

If it were not for Rahul Sarvades prompt actions, the four owls you can see in the picture would not have been alive today.

Sarvade, a 20-year-old resident of LBS Marg, rescued four owls from Mulund Link Road on Feb 17 when an unidentified person was on his way to sell them.

I was chatting with my friends near Link Road when we noticed a man carrying a big black box with holes punched into it. We could also hear noises from inside the box so we questioned the man about the contents of the box. He seemed frightened at being accosted, says Sarvade.

The man said that he was carrying chicken to be sold in the market, but Sarvade was not convinced. I though something was fishy about the whole affair so I told one of my friend to call PAWS. In the meantime, with help from another friend, I forced the man to open the box and found the four owls inside, he adds.

The man finally admitted that he was to deliver the birds to a Bhandup resident who wanted to sacrifice them. He said he regularly got the birds from the National Park. He had been doing that for the past several years, Sarvade adds.

Sunish Subramanian, the PAWS animal welfare officer, says, We got a call from Sarvades friend around 3 pm and we reached the spot in less than five minutes because our office is close to Link Road. The man ran away after seeing our van. We had encountered a similar case last week but werent able to catch him either.

The owls were provided first aid for a day and then sent to SPCA Parel, as required by the Wild Life Act. Naresh Patil, the PAWS vet, says, When the owls were brought to the centre, they were in critical condition. So we kept them here for a day before sending them to Parel.

If you see an animal in distress, call PAWS on 25968314 or 9833480388

Freedom on I-Day for these lovebirds

16 August 2006

An unclaimed brown cardboard box lying on the luggage rack of a local train on Independence Day looked like potential trouble at first. Commuters were ready to press the panic button. But Nisha Kunju, the college girl who first noticed the box, bravely decided to open it. After all, she heard no ticking bomb, just “cheep-tweet” sounds from inside.

In the box were four air starved lovebirds who were being illegally transported.
Kunju noticed the box at around 9 am in a Thane-bound train from Vikhroli.
When she asked others about the box, no one claimed it. “Somebody was illegally transporting these four lovebirds in a box that didn’t even have proper holes for ventilation”, said animal welfare officer Sunish Subramanian of the Plant & Animals Welfare Society – Mumbai (PAWS-Mumbai), which is now caring for the birds. “This truly is freedom for these birds which are exploited by animal traffickers who sell them at high prices”.

Lovebirds are among the smallest parrots in the world. They weigh around 40gm to 60gm each and their beaks are rather large for their overall size. Many lovebirds are green, although colour mutations can spawn varied hues.

They belong to the genus Agapornis, which is Greek for lovebird. The birds are social and affectionate, and form close bonds with mates, usually lasting for life. Their lifespan is approximately 12 to 15 years.

If you see any bird or animal in distress, call PAWS-Mumbai on : 9833480388, 9820678276 or 25968314.

Bird smugglers run into forest dept trap

2 Feb 2009

MUMBAI: The anti-poaching unit, vigilance wing of forest department and the Mumbai team of PAWS on Saturday night trapped a syndicate which sold falcons and hawks by advertising on a website. The forest department has arrested two youths - Farhan Anwar Khan and Mohammed Siddiqui Sayyed aka Javed - and seized their vehicle, a Santro.

Speaking to TOI, assistant conservator of forests Satish Phale of the anti-poaching unit said, "The duo from Dongri had given an ad for the sae of falcons on the website - oxl.com.''

The sale of such birds is banned under Schedule I, Part III of Wildlife Protection Act 1972. The duo asked for a price of Rs 12,000 for each bird.

Sources said that the forest department had earlier laid two traps for them, but were unsuccessful. This time, they called the wildlife smugglers to Santa Cruz airport and managed to nab them on Saturday night. The forest department and PAWS team had posed as decoy customers.

"They had wrapped the bird like a small baby to avoid suspicion and only the head could be seen,'' said Sunish Subramanian of PAWS. These kind of birds have been recently used by Pakistan to spy over Indian territories.

The two were presented before the holiday magistrate's court in Bandra and given seven days' custody. They have been kept in the police lock-up at Thane.

Phale said that the duo gave misleading answers about the source of the bird. "We are trying to find out how many other birds they have. They claim that they found the bird in a graveyard and later gave some vague answer. Our investigations will found the nature of this racket,'' said Phale.

Sunish Subramanian said, "There is evidence to show that the duo has more birds.''