When the temperatures rise in summer and the ground is sun-baked, we worry about what the heat is doing to us. Do we concurrently think of what animals, birds and reptiles do during water shortage? We can fend for ourselves, what about fauna? This was one of the questions that Colonel (Dr) Navaz S (retired), Chief Veterinarian and General Manager, People For Animals (PFA) Wildlife Hospital and Rescue Centre, started off with while sharing some distressing facts on the present parched state of the Turahalli forest that lies 20 kilometres from Central Bengaluru, off Kanakapura Road.
Stepping in
With concern about the thirsty wild animals and birds in Turahalli forest that is spread over 590 acres and protected by the Karnataka Forest Department, Navaz with other non-governmental organisations, has stepped in to provide water during the summer for the animals and birds inside the forest. He has been supplying four tankers of water every day since Ugadi, and will continue to do so until the monsoons arrive which would be end of June this year.
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“Ponds are going dry in the forest right now. There are three big ponds and a lot of smaller water bodies spread out in every direction inside the forest area. As they have all gone dry, nearly a dozen animals were spotted straying outside on to the roads and human habitats nearby in search of water. This has also caused injury to several of them who were knocked over by traffic or chased by wild dogs on the roads. There are possibilities of them dying of cardiogenic shock,” says Navaz who has operated on elephants, deer and birds.
Given the dire need of shade, water and food among animals, Navaz says PFA’s immediate focus to replenish water reserves came as an emergency. “It is said Turahalli forest has approximately 200 spotted deer, 60 peacock and hundreds of wild boar, apart from other smaller forest species of reptiles and insects. When we got to know that they were wandering about, we realised it was due to water scarcity. So each day we have been supplying 24,000 litres of water from tankers,” he explains, adding that the necessary permission has been obtained from the Karnataka Forest Department.
Doing the mathADVERTISEMENT
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If there is a daily requirement of 24,000 litres roughly, the budget for the approximate 90-day water supply to the wild would be ₹1,40,000, depending on the rate of tankers, according to PFA and other NGOs.
What are the sources they are looking at for funds? “Even the tankers have been quoting high rates as it is summer now, but we keep bargaining with them for the best rate saying it is for a cause,” says Navaz. For the long run, PFA has been looking out for funds and have even approached people and organisations to contribute towards water for animals.
“We have just completed one round of collections and have managed ₹9,000 from public contributions,” he says. Navaz says People For Animals (PFA) Wildlife Hospital and Rescue Centre that operates from a six-acre natural farm in Kengeri has been working towards rescuing, treating and rehabilitating urban wildlife for the last 20 years. “There are monkeys, parrots, crows and several species of other birds, squirrels, slender loris and cats that we have rescued from injuries. We have dealt with 26,000 animals and birds across 198 species, treated them and returned them to their habitat,” says Navaz. PFA does not have a domestic shelter. Their organic and natural way of working with the environment has them working without artificial lights, akin to a jungle, he says.
(gm@peopleforanimalsbangalore.org / 7022457222)