Update

Update

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.