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.

Slum kids treat turtle as toy, injure its eye

City . Monday, August 17, 2009 . Page 9

A turtle, which had become a plaything for a few slum children, was rescued by five activists of the student’s wing of Plant and Animals Welfare Society (PAWS) Mumbai. However, by the time the activists reached the spot, the children had caused serious damage to one of its eyes.

The turtle is at present being treated by activists of PAWS, who will hand it over to a forest range officer later this week.

It was on Saturday that the activists received a phone call from an anonymous person stating a few kids in Bhandup were seen playing with the reptile. The caller said the kids were trying to force the turtle to swim in a drain.

Five student activists of PAWS — Nisha Kunju, an MBA student, Vishnu Nair and Priti Yadav, Std VIII students of Bright English High School, Shilpa Gupta, a Std VII student of National English High School and Hitesh Yadav of NES Sunbeam School, immediately rushed to the spot.

“The slum children were dragging the turtle all over the street with a string attached to one of its legs. They had covered the turtle with stone and mud, some of which entered its eye. As we called out to the kids, they let go of the string and disappeared from sight,” said Shilpa.

“On close inspection, we saw a deep injury in its left eye. We immediately informed the forest range officer. We are taking care of the turtle and getting it treated. Once it gets well, we will hand it over to the forest officer or release it inside a well situated in the compound of forest range office at Amar Nagar in Mulund Colony,” said Nisha.

Sunish Subramanian, secretary of PAWS, Mumbai, said children usually tend to be unaware of the harm they may be causing an animal, “We are creating awareness among school and college students about plants and animals. We allow school students to be a part of PAWS as it helps to sensitise them towards the environment and living creatures,” said Subramanian.

Horse owner charged with ‘cruelty’, put behind bars

Wednesday, August 12, 2009 . City . Page 8

Finally, after two months of investigations, the police have arrested Robert, the owner of the horses which fell to their death from the Andheri flyover on June 14. He has been charged with cruelty to the animals.

A Mumbai-based NGO, PAWS-Mumbai, that is the complainant in the case, has alleged that it had provided all evidence to the Andheri police, which pointed to the owner as being responsible for the death of the horses, but even then it took more than two months to nab the accused.

It may be recalled that on June 14, at around 2.45 pm, eye-witness saw two horses tumble from the Andheri flyover. Interestingly, no one informed the police of the incident. However, a Mumbai-based NGO, on learning of the incident, took the initiative and filed a complaint at the Andheri Police Station.

It later became known that Robert had buried one horse, while the other was admitted to the Parel’s Animal Hospital where it died because of the injuries suffered in the fall.

With the police remaining largely inactive, the NGO went to the Animal Welfare Board which then wrote to the Mumbai Police Commissioner insisting on an enquiry in the matter. The police had to finally nab Robert from his Andheri residence.

Sunish Subramanian, head of NGO said, “It is a big win for our team.”

According to A.A. Sonawane, Investigation officer, from Andheri Police station, “After investigation we found that Robert was responsible for death of both horses and have arrested him under Section 11A (1)(2) of Prevention of Cruelty of Animal Act, 1960.”

Freedom at last

Saturday, August 8, 2009 . Front Page

Hssssssssssssssss

Wednesday, August 05, 2009

Snakes seeking out drier hiding places in residential places in the rains, has become an annual event

With the onset of rainfall, animal activists are flooded with distress calls to get rid of snakes in their homes. This year has been no different. Snake-rescuers across the suburbs are being flooded with calls on being jolted out of their wits, when they see a snake huddled in their apartments.

“There’s been a large number of snake sightings this year. We rescued a five-and-half feet spectacled cobra from a society compound in Malad Station area,” says snake-rescuer Rajendra Koli from Madh village. “I get rescue calls almost every second day from areas like Marve, Eksar in Borivali, and as far as Wadala too,” he adds. It’s an annual event, quip snakes-rescuers. Flooding of the snake burrows force the snakes to seek out drier hiding places, thus straying as far as the residential areas.

“Last week, we rescued a four-and-a-half feet long rat snake from MIDC compound in Andheri East. It was spotted roaming freely in the compound,” informs Sunish Subramanian, Secretary of Plant and Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) Mumbai. In fact, in the last 45 days, they have rescued around 50 snakes from various areas such as Powai, MIDC in Andheri East, Aarey Colony in Goregaon and Malad.

Some of the snakes rescued from the residential areas, include Spectacled Cobra, Rat Snake, Russell’s Viper, Saw-Scaled Viper, Checkered Keelback, Buff-Striped Keelback, Banded Kukri Snake, Common Wolf Snake, Common Sand Boa, Indian Rock Python and Common Indian Krait. A few days ago, a rat snake was found cuddled up outside one of the homes in Govind Nagar, Malad East.

Says snake-rescuer Niranjan Karnad from Mahindra Nagar in Malad East, who rescued the snake, “Snake had taken shelter outside the house in a corner, where a lot of scrap material was lying for many days. We rescued it, and then released it back in the forest. Many people do not know how to react on spotting a snake. Their immediate instinct is to kill the reptile. That is dangerous, as the snake will sting back in self-defence.”

Snake-rescuers opine that people need to take preventive measures to keep reptiles away from the residential areas. “Clear all the debris, garbage and unkempt bushes in your area, as it is an ideal hiding place for snakes,” concurs Karnad.

Snake charmers steer clear of Mumbai

Mumbai, August 03, 2009

MISSING REPTILES

Mumbai: This Nag Panchami, animal welfare activists were happy to note that there were no snake charmers to be seen on Mumbai’s roads. Nag Panchami was on July 26.

“This is good news. It shows that snake charmers are now afraid of coming into Bombay with snakes. They know it’s illegal,” says Sunish Subramanian, of the Plant and Animal Welfare Society (PAWS), Mumbai, which combed the areas of Bhandup, Thane, Kalwa, Mumbra, Andheri and CST for snake charmers.

Under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, it is illegal to keep or display snakes. Till about 10 or 15 years ago, over a 100 snakes were rescued each year in Mumbai during Nag Panchami.

There has been a steady decline in the last five years. “In the last two years we have caught just one or two snakes during the festival,” says Subramanian.

Snake rescuers say this is due to heightened awareness. “People know that it is illegal when snake charmers display snakes. Many are also aware of the cruelty involved,” says Dr Dinesh Vinherkar, a veterinarian and snake expert who works with In Defence of Animals, an animal welfare group.

Snakes that are caught for display have their fangs broken and mouths stitched.

“They are not mammals and don’t drink the milk offered. This is a myth. The milk can go into their lungs and choke them. If it dries up, it forms bacteria and blocks their nostrils. This combined with the haldi and kumkum applied on its head can cause infection to the snake,” says Dr Vinherkar, who along with four of his colleagues patrolled the route from Dadar to Santacruz on Nag Panchami but found no snake charmers.

“People now realise if they worship a real snake they are doing it a disservice,” adds Dr Vinherkar.

Many snake charmers have now turned to using clay and metal snake idols and seem to attract as many devotees.

“One woman who for years used to sit with real snakes in Mulund, now has a big metal idol she displays,” says Subramanian.