Lakhs of animals affected in this worst affected flood in different parts of affected districts. When people are not getting proper support, animals are mostly neglected. No proper feed, veterinary help has been reached. After three days of field evaluation of the situation by People for Animals, has started the relief work for the affected animals in Kendrapara and Khurda district, the worst affected place.
People for Animals, head Smt.Maneka Gandhi in a telephonic talk with Sri J.B.Das, Orissa head of People for Animals instructed to start emergency relief work in Kendrapara district immediately. The organisatiin has decided to work in various parts of worst affected areas to help the animals. Feeding, veterinary camps has already been started in Marshaghai and Mahakalapara blocks under Kendrapara district.The relief work for animals will continue for 7 days in 1st phase. Besides Balipatna, Balianta in Khurda district, Banki in Cuttack district, Nimarapa, Gopa in Puri district where we have planned to do relief work for the animals. The flood affected areas are mostly rural in nature and in rural areas people depend on live stock for their livelihood. So when we are helping animals we are also helping people who depend on animals for their livelihood. We also appeal every body should come forward to help the animals in this emergency situations. They are most neglected in such situations. They can't decide where to go, where to get food. We should reach them to save their lives as they are part of us.
Rani in captivity
Keonjhar:9th June 2008
Days of free movement for Rani is now seems to be numbered.
With the wildlife activists raging their voice against illegal captivity Rani, the 18-month old female sloth bear, soon the Wild life authorities will take away her to their custody.
Ramesh Munda at Judabeda Sahi of village Rutisila under Ghatagoan block in Keonjhar district has kept Rani.
She is friendly and docile.
But Law is clear that as per the Wildlife Protection Act-1972 it is illegal to posses a sloth bear.
Rani is a schedule-I animal as per the Act.
Jiban B Das, Secretary People for Animal (PFA), has brought to the attention of Bijay K Patnaik, the Chief Wildlife Warden (CWW)of Orissa two weeks back to rescue the bear immediately.
The Keonjhar Wildlife division has also been communicated, said he.
But till now no steps has been taken to rescue the bear and rehabilitate it as per Wildlife Protection Act 1972.
When Mr.Das contacted ACF Keonjhar, he told that they have visited that place but the person who has in possession of bear been absconding. But on a visit to the place Ramesh told that the wildlife officials came, saw the bear and returned.
Mr.Das is worried that Rani will be sold to a trader, who will abuse her for commercial benefits.
So he urged upon Mr. Patnaik, CWW to take the bear into their custody.
How ever as there is no space in Nandan Kanan wildlife authorities are not seen interested to take care of another bear.
There are at least 7 bears in the custody of the zoo authorities.
These animals are caged inside and have little movement as there is no free space available for them.
In absence of proper rehabilitation plan, once a bear taken into custody he/she remains caged for the life time, lamented a care taker in Nandan Kanan.
PFA is planning for a bear rehabilitation centre soon said Mr.Das.
J.B.Das Secretary People for Animals is available Mobile : 9437020717
PFA pleads to rescue bear from captivity Tribal village, owner not safe for Rani, experts claim
Cuttack, June 9: Activists of People for Animals (PFA) in Orissa have been seeking immediate rescue of a sloth bear being bred in captivity by a tribal man in Ghatagaon. Eighteen-month-old Rani with her shaggy black coat and a hint of a smile is now under the care of Ramesh Munda at Rutisila village. Activists fear that the bear would be initiated into the trade of exhibitions and shows and have insisted that wildlife officers rescued her before its too late. “Also, keeping sloth bears in captivity is a violation of animal protection law,” said animal rights activist J.B. Das, also a secretary of PFA. The protection of sloth bear in India is covered under the Schedule-I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), a bear specialist group, has identified sloth bears as the most vulnerable of all species and threatened with extinction. “The tribal owner is apparently initiating Rani into the show trade by taking her around in his cycle and exhibiting her in villages and fairs,” Das, who is also the secretary of People for Animal (PFA) in Orissa, told The Telegraph today. A sloth bear (which is what Rani is) is listed in the Appendix-I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) as a species that cannot be traded commercially.PFA has urged the wildlife authorities to rescueRani before she becomes a victim to malnutrition and stress. “We wrote to the chief wildlife warden two
Ramesh Munda with Rani, the 18-month-old sloth bear. Picture courtesy: People for Animals (Orissa)
weeks ago, but no tangible steps were taken,” the activist rued. Sources said chief wildlife warden B.K. Patnaik had issued directions to the Keonjhar wildlife division for necessary action. Keonjhar’s assistant forest conservator had since then reported that Ramesh Munda is “absconding”. PFA, however, has a different story. “When I visited the area to check on Rani, Ramesh Munda conceded that the wildlife officers came and returned after seeing Rani,” Das claimed. The sloth bear is found in forest areas of Sri Lanka, India, Bhutan, Bangladesh, India and Nepal. Loss of habitat and illegal poaching for the animal trade had taken a heavy toll on the species. Their estimated population in the wild has declined to 10,000.
This pet bear refuses to return to forest
Tue, Jun 17 12:30 PM
Forest officials in Orissa are trailing Ramesh Munda for keeping a wild animal at home and to evade any legal action against him, Munda is desperate to release his pet sloth bear in the forest. But each time Munda has tried to release sloth bear Rani, she returns to him. The forest department has made up its mind to rescue Rani and later shift her to the Nandankanan zoological park. But Munda believes that Rani can lead a better life in the forests and he is thus keen to release him in the woods. But Rani has so far foiled Munda's plans. Bimal Acharya, assistant conservator of forests of Keonjhar division told Hindustan Times: "The person in possession of the bear is not staying anymore at his home. He is moving with the bear. Three officials of our department are tracking Munda. So far the bear may not have harmed anyone. But it's a wild animal and it certainly poses danger to people residing in the locality. " Munda is a resident of Rutisila village under Ghatagaon block of Keonjhar district, nearly 150-km away from the state capital Bhubaneswar. Wildlife activists have now started taking a lenient view. They have also urged the forest officials not to initiate any legal action against Munda as he may not be aware of wildlife rules. Jeevan Das, secretary of Orissa chapter of People for Animals told Hindustan Times: "The bear has to be rescued. Otherwise, someone may start keeping a pet tiger or a peacock. The law of the land has to be respected. However, we don't want the man to be arrested as he is not aware of the laws governing wildlife." The forest department, however, remains non-commital on whether legal action would be completely dropped against Munda. "Let's rescue the sloth bear first and then we will examine other aspects," a senior forest official said. According to Munda, when Rani was barely two-month-old, he discovered her in the forest where he had gone to get firewood. "I did not bring her to my home, but she followed me on her own," Munda had said. And since then the bond has developed so much that Rani is now an integral part of Munda's family.
Eighteen-month-old Rani is an integral part of Ramesh Munda’s family. She accompanies Munda to the market, plays with his three-year-old daughter, sleeps with the family and guards the house in their absence. Rani, of course, is no ordinary creature. She is a sloth bear who has been domesticated. Munda is a resident of Rutisila village under Ghatagaon block of Keonjhar district, nearly 150-km away from the state capital. According to Munda, when Rani was barely two-month-old, he discovered her in the forest where he had gone to get firewood. “I did not bring her to my home, but she followed me,” Munda said. And now Rani is part and parcel of the Munda family. Wildlife activists are, however, not impressed by Munda’s justification to keep Rani at his home. Jeeban Das, secretary of the Orissa chapter of People for Animals has already written to the chief wildlife warden of the state to rescue the bear. Das told Hindustan Times, “A sloth bear is a schedule-I animal as per wildlife protection Act 1972. The person who has been in possession of the bear, is earning his livelihood by exhibiting the bear. He is also not able to feed the bear properly. It is the duty of wildlife division to make the tribals aware of the Wildlife Act so that they will not keep any wild animal, which is illegal.” However, the entire Rutisila village is with the Munda family.
19th Sept. 200,: The Northen part of Orissa, India is very badly affected by Flood. In this flood lakhs of animals are affected in Balasore and Mayurbhanj district of Northen Orissa. People for Animals started relief work for animals in various parts of affected areas. Emergency treatment and vaccination work is going on. Besides animal feeding is also provided to the affected animals. Many villages are marooned where our volunteers, veterinarians, live stock inspectors reaching and helping the animals. The animals affected are mostly farm animals on whom the people of these areas are depending for their livelihood. The aim of our organization is to help the animals affected in this flood. But simultaneously we are also helping the people depending on these animals for their livelihood. So ultimately Animal Welfare is always human welfare.
PRESS RELEASE
Working together to make rabies history!
"WORLD RABIES DAY"
08th Sept. 2007, People for Animals, Bhubaneswar in association with College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandary, Orissa organised a marathon walk to mark the occasion of "WORLD RABIES DAY". Rabies is a deadly disease caused by a virus that attacks the nervous system. The virus is secreted in saliva and is usually transmitted to people and animals by a bite from an infected animal. Less commonly, rabies can be transmitted when saliva from a rabid animal comes in contact with an open cut on the skin or the eyes, nose, or mouth of a person or animal. Once the outward signs of the disease appear, rabies is nearly always fatal. Every year 55,000 human being is killed by rabies i.e. in every 10 minutes one person is dying by rabies. Most of these deaths are reported from Africa and Asia with almost 50% of the victims being children under the age of 15. The most important global source of rabies in humans is from uncontrolled rabies in dogs. Children are often at greatest risk from rabies, as they are most likely to be bitten by dogs or other animals and are often bitten in high-risk areas (such as the head or face).Rabies is Zoonotic disease can be entirely preventable through vaccination. To Raise awareness and enhance prevention and control of this neglected disease one marathon walk organised at 9.30 A.M. from Indira Gandhi Park.Hon'ble Minister, Tourism and Excise,Govt. of Orissa Sj. Debi Prasad Mishra Flaged Up the rally and also participated in the marathon walk. About one hundred Students from College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandary, Dean Veterinary College Dr. B.K.Sahu, Dean, Extention, Dr.R.N.Patnaik, Member, Animal Welfare Board of Orissa along with other staffs and members of People for Animals participated in the rally. Events are planned throughout the world in at least 61 countries to increase awareness of rabies and to raise support and funding towards its control and prevention.
(J.B.Das)
Secretary
National workshop on Animal Welfare organized by People for Animals, Bhubaneswar which is first of its kind in Orissa. The workshop was inaugurated by our Chief Minister Sri Naveen Patnaik in the presence of noted animal activist of India and Chairperson, People for Animals Smt.Maneka Gandhi, Minister Fisheries and Animal Resources Development Sri Golak Nayak, Minister,Tourism and Excise Sri Debi Prasad Mishra and Member of Parliament Dr.Prasanna Ku. Patasani. The welcome address given by the Secretary Sri Jiban Ballav Das.
Participants from different Animal Welfare Organizations, SPCAs, Wildlife deptt., Animal Husbandry deptt. participated in the workshop. Experts from WTI, GSPCA, Blue Cross of India, Chennai, and from different deptt. of State govt. presented their papers on different subject. Issues on Wildlife Management, Disaster Management, Role of Govt. Agencies, Education and Awareness, Animal Laws, ABC, Religion and Animal Welfare, Best practice of Handling Animals during transportation etc. discussed in the workshop. This type of workshop was first of its kind in Orissa and around 250 participants participated. The feed back received from the participants shows that the participants gather knowledge on different issues which will help them in their field in various parts of our State. The two days workshop completed very successfully.
