Saturday, June 29, 2013

Starving Mules of Uttarakhand

Thousands of lives have been lost in the tragic incident of cloud burst and landslide in the hill state of Uttarakhand in India. The government agencies and the Indian Army have been carrying out rescue operations to save human lives which is commendable. However, no one is paying attention to nearly 2000 mules and horses stranded in the ravaged area.


These mules are used to ferry people from one place to another in the hills which itself is animal torture and exploitation. However, ignoring them completely and leaving them to die of starvation after a calamity of such magnitude shows our indifferent and cruel attitude towards these animals. It proves how rampantly we have exploited the Earth and its creatures for our own benefit.



The lives of these starving animals are as important as of humans. Nobody has a right to think that animals have fewer rights than humans and that it does not matter if these mules and horses starve to death.


The government and the authorities concerned should immediately start a rescue and rehabilitation program for these animals. In the meantime, they should immediately be provided with food and water. A team of vets should be sent immediately to ascertain that all the injured animals are given proper medical treatment.


If we have been exploiting these animals for our own benefit, we must take care of them. We must remember that the life of an animals is as precious as the life of a human being and that they deserve the same facilities which are being provided to the humans of the affected area. We request the government to immediately take staeps to rescue and rehabilitate these innocent animals.







Friday, June 7, 2013

Tiger Population is increasing in India...

In India, which is home to half of the world's tiger population, the latest census in March 2011, revealed the presence of an estimated 1,706 tigers, way down from a healthy 45,000 population about 100 years ago. Tigers are mercilessly poached for their skin, claws and bones, all sold for its medicinal value in countries such as China and also in the west. Parts from a single tiger can fetch as much as $50,000 in the black market.

However, there is some encouraging news. Officials at the NagarjunasagarSrisailam Tiger Reserve ( India ) said tiger movements were caught on camera recently in and around 800 square kilometers of NSTR, which experts said were signs that the population was doing well. At least 5 males and 10 females, apart from 3 cubs aged over a year old were caught on camera in the core areas for the first time in the last few years.




Buoyed at the good news, NSTR officials said they are planning to purchase 210 cameras so that 800 square kilometer area can be covered at one go. Officials also plan to scout at least 2,000 square kilometres area of the reserve before the onset of monsoon and complete rest of the area later. This scientific mapping exercise is being done under phase-4 of intensive tiger monitoring under the ministry of environment and forests. Experts said special care must be taken to protect the cubs as the mortality rate is often very high.







Source: TOI