TEARS FOR THE CROCODILE

Wednesday, June 30, 2010 . Front Page

In what seems to be a deplorable situation, the body of a crocodile has been floating in the Powai Lake for past many days, and it has been more than 24 hours, since one of the locals informed the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) officials, Forest Department and the police. However, none of the authorities have taken the initiative to remove the body, nor do they seem interested in probing the reasons for the animal’s death.
Animal activists have taken a serious note of the issue and have demanded that an autopsy be performed on the dead croc, as they believe, pollutants in the lake might have killed the animal.

According to Sunish Subramanian, founder of Plant and Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) Mumbai, who was informed by the locals about the body, “The ongoing beautification of the lake by the BMC, which is taking much time to complete, has taken its toll on the lake’s eco-system and its inhabitants. The forest officials should conduct a post mortem. The BMC should also check for pollutants in the lake, as high levels will spell doom for the other animals too.”
On Monday afternoon, a local fishermen who was fishing at the lake, noticed the body and immediately informed the authorities and PAWS. The BMC’s hydraulic department staff did visit the spot, but returned without taking any action.

When contacted, Asha Khorke, police sub inspector, Powai police station, said, “The case belongs to the BMC. They had approached us, but we instructed them to fish out the croc’s body on their own.”

Vinay Deshpande, Hydraulic Engineer, when contacted, said he was unaware about the incident and that he would check with his juniors. So did T.N. Patil, the forest officer.

Meanwhile, Siddharth Tayde, a local, said, “Looking at the body, it appears that the crocodile must have died two-three days ago. The stench has greatly inconvenienced locals and tourists.”

Doomed as predicted

About one year ago, the BMC had undertaken the Powai Lake beautification project, including construction of a musical fountain at the lake, which is still in the pipeline. However, many environmentalists and animal activists had opposed the project citing that it would destroy the lake’s eco-system and affect the animals and birds dependent on it.

PAWS expose illegalities in Borivli Natinal Park PAWS expose illegalities in Borivli Natinal Park

Monday, May 31, 2010 . Page 24

Following the sting operation carried out by PAWS, exposing the flourishing encroachment within the Sanjay Gandhi National Park, which was later submitted to the to the forest department, the Ministry of Environment and Forest Department had taken a serious note of the issue and has the Principal Conservator Officer of Forest, Maharashtra to probe into the matter and punish the guilty.

PAWS in their video highlighted the rampant illegal construction coming up near Wagle Estate, Thane. On one hand, where illegal bungalows and shanties at Yeoor are demolished and those dislocated are being relocated, on the other the forest department in truing a blind eye to ongoing encroachment.
According to Sunish Subramanian, Founder, PAWS and also a member of the High Court appointed Committee to Monitor Animal Welfare Laws in Maharashtra, “When I was tipped off in April about the illegal construction work mushrooming within the park, I immediately conducted an inspection and after noticing the encroachment, I decided to come the back next day along with forest officers and catch the culprits red-handedBut when I approached the park officials, they lacked interest, hence I decide to undertake the sting operation.”

After filming the illegal construction, Subramanian forwarded the evidence to animal welfare board and other department, demanding stringent action against the mushrooming encroachment and culprits.

Taking Subramanian’s demand and evidence seriously, last week, the Ministry of Environment and Forest Department has given written orders (copy of which is available with ADC) to the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests to conduct an in-depth enquiry.

When contacted, Dr. P.N. Mundey, Chief Conservator of Forest, under whose jurisdiction Sanjay Gandhi National Park falls, said, “We are yet to receive enquiry order from the Principal Conservator of Forest, Nagpur. Once we receive it we will do the needful.”

Horses Not Par For These Courses!

Monday, September 21, 2009 . Page 24 (Back Page)

After actress Hema Malni’s letter to the Kalyan RTO demanding action against tongawallas who ill-treat their horses, the RTO has initiated action with the help of the Kalyan Municipal Corporation, which had granted them license to run tongas.

Encouraged by this, the Mumbai-based organization PAWS-Mumbai has nabbed a person who was forcibly dragging away a horse.

According to Sunish Subramanian, PAWS-Mumbai, founder, “On Friday evening at around 7pm we got a call from a person saying that a man was forcibly dragging a horse on the Eastern Express Highway”.

Subramanian informed the police control room and later reached the spot himself and helped apprehend the person. The person, who identified himself as Iqbal Basheer Sheikh, claimed that he was a resident of Kalyan and the horse owner had assigned him the job of transporting the horse to Nariman Point, where he his buyer was located.

According to Subramanian, as per the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, which was amended in 2001, a person transporting a horse or other such animal on foot must feed and provide water to the animal at regular intervals if the distance is long.

Sheikh confessed that he had not done so and also admitted to have consumed ganja himself enroute.

It may be recalled that, recently, a house found in Kalyan in an injured condition had later died at the hospital. Talking the matter seriously, Heem Malini, had intervened in the matter of ill-treatment of horses.

However, when the PAWS-Mumbai activist took the horse to Vikhroli Police Station to register a case against the person responsible, the police merely sent him away with a warning.

What the Law says?

According to the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Transport of Animals on Foot) Rules, 2001, a person transporting horses, ponies, mules, donkeys on foot can only travel 45 km per day, or 6 km per hour. Every three hours, drinking water should be provided to the animals and every six hours, food. Moreover if the person transporting the animal or person transporting the animals or animals is not their owner, he must carry a certifying letter from the owner.

Snakes taking to the suburbs!

Tuesday, September 15, 2009 . Page 24

After the recent rains in the city, snakes are being founding increasing numbers in housing complexes. During the last three days, a PAWS-Mumbai team rescued seven snakes from residential areas of Mulund, Bhandup, Kanjur Marg, and the BARC Colony. Interestingly, most of the rescued snakes were non-venomous, like rat snakes, common wolf snakes, cat snakes and sand boas. According to wildlife experts, the city has witnessed major habitat destruction, which has resulted in animals like snakes and even at times, leopards, entering residential area located on the city’s outskirts. This monsoon, the PAWS team alone has rescued more than a hundred snakes from various housing localities in the suburbs.

According to Sunish Subramanian, founder of PAWS-Mumbai, “Since the last few years there has been an increase in the number of snake sightings in residential areas, especially in and around newly-constructed buildings.”

Subramanian however, said one reason why snakes are sighted in monsoons so frequently is that they breed some time just before the monsoon. “Their burrows or other dwelling places often get flooded forcing them to come out in the open. That is why so many baby snakes are also seen around this time.”

Narayan Rajpal, a Mulund resident, said “Our neighborhood has a lot of construction activity going on and we keep sighting snakes every other day, especially during the heavy rains.”

So as to avoid a shock:

Remove all piles of debris or garbage and trim unkempt bushes, as these are the most likely hiding places for snakes.

Fix nets on windows all over the house including the washrooms, and always keep the doors closed.

Keep pet birds away from windows and trim tree branches that touch or come to close to the windows.

Fill up all the rat holes in the compounds.

Snakes-N-Doves!

Mumbai . Wednesday, September 2, 2009 . Front Page

‘Game show’ inside Bhiwandi Ganesh pandal

Bhiwandi has the dubious distinction of having a Ganesh pandal inside which animals were confined and treated cruelly. Two cobras were being constantly prodded or smacked with a stick to make them aggressively open their hoods to devotees. Two pigeons with their feet tied were also kept inside the pandal for added effect.

Interestingly, the pandal, Swargiya late Nan Mitra Mandal, belongs to Shiv Sena leader Sainath Pawar.

A snake charmer wearing saffron robes was seated inside torturing the cobras, hitting them on the head to prevent them from curling up in the small basket. This was being done to allow the continuous stream of visitors see the snakes with their hoods open.

The pigeons in the meanwhile, struggled to keep their distance from the cobras.

On being tipped off, the Mumbai based PAWS (Plant & Animals Welfare Society) Mumbai lodged a complaint with the Forest Department and the Thane Police, alleging that a Bhiwandi based Ganesh Mandal was violating the laws pertaining to wild and protected animals laws by illegally keeping two cobras and birds to attract devotees and visitors.

Sunish Subramanian, the PAWS-Mumbai activist who made the complaint said, “On Monday after we got information about the cruel treatment of protected creatures, we went across to Bhiwandi and found devotees inside the pandal taking blessings from a cobra and putting cash offering in a box. The cobra was constantly prodded to say upright. The snake charmer, Dhulanath had brought the cobras from MP. A cobra is protected under Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 and comes under Schedule – I animals.”

However, the surprising thing is that when the Forest Department officials raided the pandal, they found no animals or birds present. Obviously, the mandal was tipped off by someone from inside the law enforcement department.

When our reporter asked Sainath Pawar about the cobras and the pigeons, he denied any involvement, saying. “We did not call any snake charmer to display the cobras. The man came here uninvited, and sat in our pandal. When our workers saw him they send him out.”

However, when confronted with the photographic evidence provided by the NGO and asked how come he was aware about the man occupying his pandal with the pigeons and the cobras from two full days, Pawar refused to make any comment.

For more photos & videos on this issue please check www.pawsmumbaiphotographs.blogspot.com

Wild animals, birds as pets?

Page 6 . ADC City . Tuesday, August 18, 2009

PAWS conducts spl. drive to check pets at homes

You could be in real trouble if you have a hobby of keeping wild animals or birds as pets at home. The Mumbai based PAWS (Plant & Animals Welfare Society) Mumbai had launched a special drive against those who flout laws by keeping prohibited animals at their residence.

In a recent raid conducted by PAWS activists with Forest Officer’s vigilance squad at Kandivli, 25 Muniyas and five parrots were seized from the home of Pankaj Pawar.

According to Sunish Subramanian, a large number of wild birds were being illegally caged Pawar’s residence at Ashmita Co-operative Housing Society. Following this tip-off, a PAWS-Mumbai team visited the area to check out the facts and later lodged a complaint with the Range Forest Office (RFO), Vigilance Squad.

According to T.N.Patil, Range Forest Officer, “We have seized the birds from Pankaj Pawar’s residence and also registered case in this matter against him under the Wildlife Protection Act.”

What comes under Wild Life Protection Act

HUNTING, keeping or breeding of any wild animals and birds. Acquiring, receiving, keeping in control, custody or possession, and selling wild animals like monkeys, snakes, bears, etc. or any wild birds. This includes parakeets and mynahs. Selling skins or meat of wild animals. This includes monitor lizards oil or oil made of any other creature. Dealing in stuffed squirrels, snake skins and peacock feathers. These all are punishable under Wild Life Protection Act, 1972.