Maneka Gandhi offers to attend to activist Parulekar’s pets

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/maneka-gandhi-offers-to-attend-to-activist-parulekars-pets/882614/

Member of Parliament Maneka Gandhi has stepped in to look after animals at the Pune home of noted animal rights activist Claude Lila Parulekar (78), who was allegedly confined to her house.

Parulekar is now in her Queen’s Road bungalow in Pune with 150-200 rescued animals, including dogs and cows who have no trained staff to look after them. The conditions, as stated by her friend Pranoti Vyas, are very unhygienic for a person with low immunity.

Gandhi, the chairperson of the People for Animals organisation, has said in her intervention application that Parulekar, the sole trustee of the Jeevraksha Animal Welfare Trust, is her “long time friend”. Gandhi has said that her NGO wished to offer immediate relief to the animals at Parulekar’s home in order to prevent further harm to them.

Gandhi’s intervention application states, “The current situation if allowed as it is, the animals may perish and the loss would be not just in terms of lives, but will also fail the efforts of the lifetime of a woman who never married, never had children, lived like a sadhvi and loved the animals unconditionally. That would be a waste of her lifetime efforts, which is not fair to Parulekar or her animals.”

Gandhi urged the court to allow her to attend to the animals.

Pranoti Vyas, a food-technologist from Satara, had moved the Bombay High Court through her lawyers Jamshed Mistry and Pradeep Havnur, seeking directions to the disability commissioner to take action for urgent assistance to Parulekar, who suffers from a number of ailments including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, left-paralysis, urinary tract infection and low immunity.

Vyas has also stated that Parulekar is in the “clutches of the Pawar group” — led by Pratap Pawar, brother of Union Minister Sharad Pawar — who “initially tried to grab the property and shares of Lila in Sakal Papers Ltd and have literally taken over possession of her person and many of her assets.”

Pursuant to court directions, Mistry said, Parulekar was taken to a Pune hospital and examined by doctors who said she is still in need of care. Vyas’s petition will be heard on December 9.

HC allows Maneka to take care of Lila’s animals

http://www.indianexpress.com/story_mobile.php?storyid=883549 

The Bombay High Court on Friday approved the intervention application filed by MP Maneka Gandhi, chairperson of animal rights organisation People For Animals( PFA), to look after the animals at the home and shelter of animal rights activist Claude Lila Parulekar (78).

On December 2, Newsline had reported that Gandhi had filed an application to provide help to the animals at the shelter located on Queen’s Road, Pune. In the application, it is stated that the volunteers of PFA Pune and the Jeev Raksha Support Group are willing to provide immediate relief to the animals of Jeevraksha. Manoj Oswal, animal welfare officer and member of PFA Pune, said, “We will now put together a team to manage the shelter and prevent further harm and neglect to the animals.”

Some of the crucial matters the team will look into include maintaining database and preparing medical case papers of the 150-200 animals at the shelter, assisting in day-to-day work, urgent isolation of sick and diseased animals in proper enclosures which need to be built, vaccinations and implementation of animal birth control programme in coordination with other NGOs.

In the application, Gandhi had stated: “The current situation if allowed as it is, the animal may perish and the loss would be not just in terms of loss of innocent lives but it will fail the efforts of the lifetime of a lady who never married, never had children, lived like a sadhvi, all for her unconditional love for her animals. That would be a waste of the lifetime efforts of Lila.” Parulekar, who was allegedly confined to her house, suffers from a number of ailments, including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease.

UK green group shows how to prevent elephant deaths on railway tracks

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/pune/UK-green-group-shows-how-to-prevent-elephant-deaths-on-railway-tracks/articleshow/10951400.cms

Pune: Radar sensors installed on trains can detect elephants crossing or standing on railways tracks while an auto-brake function can avoid hitting them. Both steps would bring down the mortality rate of the elephants, Animal Equity, a UK-based animal rights' organization, and its representatives in Pune, have said. 

On an average, trains hit five elephants every year and injure scores of other animals. Last September, seven elephants were mowed down in a single incident at Banerhat on the New Jalpaiguri and Alipurduar junction stretch. This year, so far, four elephants have been run over by trains. 

 Scintillating light headlamps with halogen or light-emitting diode bulbs, water cannons to drive away animals blocking tracks and high-powered binoculars for train drivers were other suggestions made to the environment minister and railways minister for implementation. 

Amruta Ubale, representative of Animal Equality in Pune, told TOI that the current preventive measures have had success, but have failed to prevent the deaths of elephants.“Radar sensors installed on trains can detect animals both moving and immobile in front of the train and on the tracks. They will also determine the distance from the animal and an auto-brake function can avoid hits,” she said. 

Laurita Gough, spokesperson for Animal Equality, has written to minister of railways Dinesh Trivedi about the radar sensor technology known as collision warning systems used by many car companies internationally. “If an emergency arises, a warning is sounded and light flashes on the heads up display. Full brakes are applied immediately if the driver does not respond in time. Experts say that this technology works best when the vehicle is driven under 25 km per hour. In situations where the speed is more than 25 km per hour it helps in reducing the collision speed.'' 

Ubale said that at present the state forest department and animal welfare organisations have intervened in some states and implemented measures. These include patrolling, electric fencing, installation of signages and hoardings, levelling of steep embankments, sensitising train drivers and other railway staff and clearing vegetation around blind corners to improve visibility for train drivers. “These seem to have been successful to some extent, but have not prevented the deaths of elephants due to train hits,” she added. 

 
In the past
    According to the elephant task force report, 150 elephants have been killed in train collisions since 1987. Assam has topped elephant casualties due to train hits accounting for 36 %. West Bengal with 26 % and Uttarakhand with 14 %, follow Assam. 

Animal Equality’s suggestions - Installation of automatic speed governing
    devices which can be activated once the
    train enters tracks in the forests. 

- Installation of water cannon for animals
    found blocking the track 

- High-power binoculars provided to
    drivers to improve visibility
 

Recent hit A sub-adult female elephant was killed after being hit by the speeding Ranchi-bound Guwahati-Ranchi Express on the railway track between New Jalpaiguri and Alipurduar junction railway stations on November 5. Other elephants of the herd blocked the track for more than an hour. The incident occurred on the outskirts of Jaldapara wildlife sanctuary. The herd was crossing the track. The train hit the animal and dragged it nearly 250 m before the cow catcher of the engine tossed it off the track. Last September, seven elephants were killed by a goods train in a single incident at Banerhat. This year four elephants have been mowed down. 

No Govt response yet to Animal Right body's suggestions

http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/showpage.asp?id=nov3011,5,87,1746,993,429

Concerned over the elephant deaths due to collisions with trains in Assam, and in ability of the authorities to implement effective measures, Animal Equality, an animal rights organization based in a the UK has written a letter to the Minister of Environment and Forests and Minister of Railways urging them to consider the suggestions sent by their Indian representatives. But so far there has been no response from either of the Ministry. 

Elephant causalities due to train hits have become frequent in recent years. According to the Elephant Task force report, Assam is on the top of jumbo casualties due to train-hits since 1987. The state forest department and animal welfare organizations have jointly intervened in some states and implemented measures such as patrolling, electric fencing, installation of signages and hoardings, leveling of steep embankments, created an awareness among train drivers and other railway staff, cleared vegetation at blind corners to improve visibility for train drivers, etc. These seem to have been successful to some extent, but have not proved to prevent the deaths due to train hits. 

“It will prove effective to install radar sensors in the train which will detect animals (moving or immobile) in front of the train and on tracks. This will help in determining the distance from the animal. This unit in addition can have an auto-brake function which is utilized to avoid hits.”  said Amruta Ubale, representative of Animal Equality told The Assam Tribune. 

The sensor technology has been used by many car companies internationally. These are commonly known as collision warning systems. The collision warning system works by combining data obtained from a dual-mode radar unit in the grille and a video camera mounted by the rear-view mirror. While the radar spots approaching objects at a distance, the camera hones in and identifies those potential hazards. If an emergency arises, a warning is sounded and light flashes on the heads up display. Full brakes are applied immediately if the driver does not respond in time. Experts say that this technology works best when the vehicle is driven under 25 kmph. In situations where the speed is more than 25 kmph it helps in reducing the collision speed.

Animal Equality has called for installation of automatic speed governing devices which can be activated once the train enters forest track. These speed control devices can be set at a maximum speed of 20-25 kmph on even tracks and 40-45 kmph on steep tracks.

Moreover, a demand has been made for the use of powerful head lamps in addition to existing head lamps. The bulbs used in both lamps should be halogen/LED. This will also help in illuminating maximum length of rail tracks.

Animal Equality reminded the Ministers that the suggestions were first sent by Amruta Ubale in 2010. They were then forwarded by the Ministry of Environment and Forests to the Ministry of Railways requesting to examine and explore the possibility of implementing suggestions. 

UK group offers tips to prevent jumbo deaths
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1111129/jsp/northeast/story_14810155.jsp#

Bird flu-like virus killing Jharkhand crows

RANCHI: The Centre has sent an alert to the Jharkhand government to remain cautious about a possible poultry infection, after a mysterious bird flu-like virus is believed to have killed between 500 and 1,000 crows in Jamshedpur, Bokaro and parts of Hazaribagh. Though an official intimation from the Union animal husbandry department is still to reach the state, a study on the crow deaths conducted at the animal disease laboratory in Bhopal found a virus resembling that of bird flu. However, the study allays fears about cattle, poultry and humans being infected because the virus was detected only in the brain of the dead crows.

Joint commissioner at the department of animal husbandry, A B Negi, said the virus was not found in the fecal matter or esophageal swabs of the dead crows. This means it cannot spread from one crow to another or any other bird unless the flesh of an infected crow is consumed by another scavenger.

"It is likely that a crow consuming a dead crow or any other scavenger may pick up the virus and get infected," he said. A team of scientists from the Indian Veterinary Research Institute had visited Jamshedpur to collect samples of crow carcasses and made prima facie observations. IVRI joint director Rishendra Verma said there was no evidence to show that the poultry in Jamshedpur was infected.

While a sizable population among tribals in Jharkhand consume crow meat and are in danger of being infected, the department of animal husbandry under the state government has issued public awareness advertisements to handle dead crows carefully and bury them. M K Sinha, the head of the zoology department, Ranchi University, has called for a detailed report on the deaths. "Mass deaths is something that needs to be handled with care so that the infection does not spread to other birds, cattle or humans," he said.The symptoms shown by the infected crows include quivering, high body temperatures and convulsions.

India snake charmer releases snakes, including cobras, in tax office

PROTESTS against the stifling weight of Indian bureaucracy turned venomous yesterday when an angry snake charmer dumped three bags of poisonous snakes at officials' feet. 

 

The release of up to 40 snakes, including four deadly cobras, sent workers rushing for the exit as the serpents slithered across the floor of a land registry office in the town of Harraiya, in Uttar Pradesh. People clambered on to tables to escape being bitten while others shook pieces of cloth at the snakes to scare them off.

At least one hooded cobra was pictured rearing into its "strike" position.

"Snakes started climbing up the tables and chairs. Hundreds of people gathered outside the room, some of them with sticks in their hands, shouting that the snakes should be killed," said Ramsukh Sharma, an official, who said that the snakes caused "total chaos".

 

The snakes were eventually recaptured by police and workers from the state's forestry department but the snake charmer who released them, Hukkul Khan, who lives in the nearby village of Lara, was still being hunted.

Locals said that Mr Khan was frequently called in when snakes had been spotted, to help capture them.

He is said to have become aggrieved because officials in the office had blocked a plan to grant him a plot of land on which to keep the snakes that he had caught.

He alleged that they wanted illegal payments to approve the paperwork.

Bahar Dutt, an animal rights activist who has worked for eight years with snake charmers in India, said that many of them were struggling to find new forms of employment after the practice was outlawed under Indian law."Many snake charmers in India are having a tough time. They face a lot of problems readjusting to a new life."

Pushkar Raj, general secretary of India's People's Union for Civil Liberties, said that the incident reflected growing frustration among ordinary Indians with corruption in the country's bureaucracy.

"I wouldn't condone it but increasingly in India this kind of thing attracts public support ... Either you go to the courts, which for many Indians are unintelligible, and favour the rich, or else you make a statement like this."

Amita Singh, professor of law and governance at Jawaharlal Nehru University, agreed.

"For ordinary people in India it's a very difficult battle. Corruption has become such a culture at the grass roots and has become so frequent that it is very hard to remove it," she said.

The Times

Bulls having a bad day in oil marketing firms too

IOC, BPCL, HPCL using bullocks to transport kerosene miffs animal rights group. Bulls are down and out — not only in the stock markets, but also in oil marketing companies. Or, so thinks the PETA (People for Ethical Treatment of Animals).

The rights organisation has filed a public interest litigation in the Bombay High Court against against three oil marketing companies. The PIL seeks to stop IndianOil Corporation (IOC), Bharat Petroleum Corporation (BPCL) and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation (HPCL) from using bullock-carts to transport kerosene from their respective depots to different rationing shops.

“These are Fortune 500 listed oil companies. Despite having other resources, they still use bulls to transport kerosene,” says Manilal Valliyate, director of veterinary affairs, Peta India.

BULLISH ON BULLS?
Oil Company	Number of  Bullock carts		Number of bullocks
	500 litres	1000 litres
IOCL	164	52	268
HPCL	197	8	213
BPCL	43	--	43
Total	464		524
Source: Controller and Rationing, Ministry of Food and Civil Supplies

He notes that most bullocks that are forced to pull kerosene carts are injured or lame; they struggle to pull “extremely heavy loads” through heavy traffic in Mumbai. “Many suffer from acute or chronic arthritis and intestinal problems such as diarrhoea and impaction. None of these companies has taken any step to stop this practice.”

Valliyate argues that no safety measures have been taken to prevent fires, explosions and other accidents while transporting kerosene on bullock carts. These oil companies use a pair of bullocks to transfer 1,000 litres of kerosene and one bullock to transfer 500 litres of the fuel.

There are 464 bullock carts which use around 524 bullocks to transport kerosene for IOCL, HPCL and BPCL, instead of opting for non-animal methods, he adds. An email sent to IOC and HPCL remained unanswered. BPCL declined to comment on the issue since a PIL has been filed.

An oil company official, on the condition of anonymity, explained the bullocks were being used to transport kerosene to rationing shops that are located in “very narrow lanes and bylanes” which cannot accommodate any other mode of transport. “Also, it is a means of livelihood to the bullock-cart owners,” he told Business Standard. “We have to consider these before we decide to stop using bullock-carts.”

Peta says that the Ministry of Food and Civil Supplies of Maharashtra had, in 2008, decided to phase out the use of bullock carts to transport kerosene in Mumbai by 31 March 2009 — and replace carts with suitable mechanised transport. Till date, the ministry has failed to phase out bullock carts.

The Maharashtra government has issued a notification under the state’s Keeping and Movement of Cattle in Urban Areas (Control) Act, 1976, prohibiting the keeping and movement of cattle in the entire area of Mumbai City and Mumbai Suburban District. It came into effect on 1 July 2006 based on public interest.

Even so, animals that are used to transport kerosene are kept in pathetic conditions, argues Valliyate. “They are treated in ways that are in violation of India’s Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960.” he argues.

Peta says it will plead in the court to issue directives to oil companies to immediately stop supplying kerosene to bullock carts and support the Ministry of Food and Civil Supplies to effectively implement the ban on bullock-carts by contributing to the changeover to mechanised transport.

Steps to bring new bill to strengthen Animal protection Act

Chennai, Dec 1 (PTI) Efforts are on to bring a new bill to strengthen the existing Animal Protection Act and make it more stringent and deterrent. "A draft bill to this effect is under consideration" of the government, Chairman of Animal Welfare Board of India Maj Gen R M Kharb told reporters here today. 

Lauding the Tamil Nadu government's landmark regulation banning the use of bulls in 'Jallikattu' (taming the bull) in the state, he hoped that this would curb the primitive and violent game that was harming humans as well as the animals. 

Expressing concern over the merciless killing of stray dogs in the name of eradicating rabies, Kharb said NGOs like the Blue Cross were striving to save these animals by taking up sterilization drive, which has yielded positive results in places like Chennai, Jaipur and Kalimpong. This sterilization drive needed to be expanded to other cities as well, he said. 

Noting that dairy companies in countries like Australia and New Zealand were trying to replace cows which gave 'A1' variety of milk with breeds that gave the healthier 'A2' variety, he expressed concern that these A1 variety cows were sought to be exported to developing countries such as India. Realizing the importance of conserving indigenous breeds of cattle, the Board has taken up local breed improvement programmes for the Goshalas in several states, he said adding the Board was also promoting organic farming and biogas production through these Goshalas. 

In order to sensitize children on issues related to animal welfare and animal rights, the Board has urged the Ministry of Human Resources Development to include animal welfare as a subject in the school curriculum. S Chinny Krishna, Vice-chairman of the AWBI, said a training programme for dog-catchers was underway to train them to handle the stray dogs in a humane way. He recalled the efforts of the Board to prevent camel slaughter during certain religious occasions and said police were directed to register FIRs in such cases relating to cruelty towards animals.