People For Animals - India's largest Animal welfare organization by Maneka Gandhi

PFA Uttarakhand -  Ritual slaughter in temples acrros State an offence: HC

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The Forest Department are confiscating the blind elephant but the CWW has given one week's notice t the DFO Ramnagar and the Director corbett to submit an explanation for the each point raised in the report. The animal Husbandry Department has sent a team if the charges made by us against the govt. vet. are true. A report is expected by wednesday.

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A free vaccination and deworming camp was held by PFA Uttarakhand with the SPCA Dehradun. Over 50 dogs kept by residents of villages near Canal Road, Dehradun were inoculated against rabies and dewormed. A vet was also available at the camp for free consultation. Most pet owners were ignorant about vaccines and the need for deworming and this was the first time that their dogs were getting their shots. The activity has helped them to be more aware about their pets and to seek medical help when needed. The vaccines were sponsored by Dr Manish patel and the deworming medication was sponsored by Psychotropics India Limited.

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A team of PFA Uttarakhand visited the Malsi Deer Park in Dehradun and exposed the following malpractices:

1. The Park is grossly under staffed. The visitors could be seen trying to provoke the animals, feeding them through the gaps in the cages, shouting screaming and even trying to poke at them with sticks.

2. All cages (except the ones housing the leopards) were found without stand off barriers (compulsory as per law)to prevent the visitors from getting too near to the enclosures. As a result in some cages the mesh had been pulled out from corners in an attempt to feed or physically touch the animal, subjecting them to injury and stress.

3. Not enough signboards were found where people could be instructed to refrain from disturbing/annoying/provoking the animals.

4. No biologist/education officer was on duty to prevent such occurrences, as has been provisioned by the Recognition of Zoo Rules 2009.

5. A peacock and a wild cock were kept in a single enclosure. Whereas another peacock was kept in another solitary confinement for over 3 years. As per law an animal cannot be kept without a mate for a period of over 1 year. Similarly, the male and the female leopard at the Park are not compatible, we were informed, and have thus been kept separately without mates for a similar length of time despite the fact that they are young and capable of breeding.

6. Two rescued owls, of unknown/rare species, were found caged in small parrot cages (similar to the ones used in households)

7. Measuring not more than 20 inches in height each giving them no space for free movement, exercise or expression of natural behavior. These wild birds cannot even flap their wings in these confinements and are subjected to massive cruelty while on display, a gross violation in every respect. The law prescribes that an enclosure for birds of prey has to be not less than 300 sq meters in area.

8. As per the Recognition of Zoo Rules 2009, sick, injured or infirm animals are not to be displayed but a black eagle and an owl of unknown species, both visibly injured were kept on display at the Park. We have on many previous occasions pointed out this lapse regarding injured/infirm animals on display but the situation keeps repeating itself due to the negligence of the authorities. The Park has no crisis management plan nor are any mock drills conducted to cope in the event of a natural disaster, animal escapes, disease outbreaks, strike by staff etc. As per the guidelines provided by the Central Zoo Authority such a strategy has to be made, practiced and reviewed regularly.

9. A star turtle has been housed in an enclosure measuring not more than 30 square meters with only a little patch of water, a few inches deep. The prescribed area should not be less than 300 square meters with half the area covered with water with a depth of 2 meters.

10. Most importantly, the Park has not bothered to engage a full time veterinarian even though it keeps a total of 156 animals. A vet who visits the park once a week is not trained in handling or treating wildlife. The male leopard has now had an injury over 2 years old that refuses to heal completely. Investigation and a possible surgical intervention that may be needed for this precious feline cannot possibly be done in these circumstances.

11. The birds with broken wings that may need wiring or other corrective surgeries have to be content with mere first aid if they survive a week long wait.

1. Timings for the zoo are not observed. We did see visitors even at 8 pm in the Zoo.

2. In contravention of Schedule 3 of rule 10 of the Recognition of Zoo Rules, 2009 the Zoo is open on all 7 days. The animals do not get even a day to relax in privacy.

3. A male leopard is kept alone in an enclosure. This practice is in contravention of rule 9(4) and 9(4) of rule 10 of the Recognition of Zoo Rules, 2009. It is a legal requirement to provide a pair for each animal displayed at the zoo. In case an animal is not paired, it needs to be loaned to some other zoo where it may be housed with another of it's species. The need to own the leopard seemingly prevented the zoo authorities from allowing it to live a healthier and a more natural life.

4. The visitors are disruptive and they throw empty bottles and other objects into the retiring area of the leopard and into the bear enclosure. The leopard has become irritable and aggressive as a result. No fines are imposed to discourage people from flouting rules. This is in contravention of Schedule 4 of rule 10 of the Recognition of Zoo Rules, 2009.

5. The Himalayan Black bears became so irritable and aggressive as a result of this that it resulted in serious fights among the 6 of them. A male bear was subsequently removed from the group and has been put in a room which is roughly 5 feet by 5 feet with a very low ceiling. The room has only one grill window which measures only two hand spans in length and breadth. The bear was listless, it could hardly walk and appeared to be  psychologically dead. The chamber has no cooling system and the only source of light and air is this tiny window. This is in contravention of Schedule 5(1) of rule 10 of the Recognition of Zoo Rules, 2009.

6. Only one out of 6 employees appointed by the Himachal Forest Department has been trained, that too, as briefly as one week. This is in contravention of Schedule 5(6) of rule 10 of the Recognition of Zoo Rules, 2009.

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PFA Uttarakhand - A News in Gharwal Post

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