From lizards and canids, to snakes and vultures, the month of February saw a plethora of rescue calls which Wildlife SOS had to attend in order to save these animals from dangerous and risky scenarios.
The Wildlife SOS Rapid Response Unit was involved in various nail-biting rescue encounters across the National Capital Region, as February was dominated by bird and snake rescues. An Egyptian Vulture, found in a critical state, was rescued by the Wildlife SOS Rapid Response unit. Officials from the police station in the Kalyanpuri area of east Delhi spotted the injured vulture hanging from a tree with a critically injured left wing and immediately contacted our team.
Identified as a juvenile, the bird was carefully transferred into a transportation carrier and rushed for treatment, where it was kept under medical observation and then eventually released once declared fit. It was suspected that the bird had fallen victim to a deadly Manja (glass-coated nylon string used to fly kites). Incidentally, Wildlife SOS rescued another Egyptian Vulture found in a semi-conscious state outside a house in Noida, Sector 26. In both instances, the birds were treated by our veterinary officers and released back in the wild.
The rescue team was also busy saving snakes and received a lot of calls regarding these reptiles being in stressful situations. The month started with the rescue of a 5-foot long Black-headed Royal Snake sighted in the Mandawali Fire Station. In another situation, a 4-foot long Checkered Keelback was spotted nestled in the water pump motor of a residence in Gandhi Vihar. In both the instances, the NGO’s Rapid Response Unit safely extricated the snakes and released them back into their habitat.
Our rescue helpline also received calls regarding mammals, one of which involved a Golden Jackal rescue from Loni, Ghaziabad. One of the locals had spotted the jackal to be injured after the animal had wandered into the residential area from a nearby forest patch. The rescue team safely transferred the jackal for medical examination and after administering treatment, was released back into the wild.
February was marked by 18 mammal rescues which included squirrels, civet cats, mongoose and Rhesus Macaques. Additionally, the Rapid Response Unit rescued more than 20 snakes including species such as the Indian Cobra and Common Indian Wolf Snake. The team was also involved in the rescue of nearly 100 birds which included cranes, doves, parrots, kites, barn owls and myna, to name a few.
Meanwhile, the Agra team came to the rescue of many a distressed urban wildlife. To start with, a 5-foot-long Indian Cobra struck panic in Agra’s Raja Balwant Singh College, Bichpuri campus. The snake had wandered into the store room of the college’s Agricultural Department. Spotting the cobra between a pile of jute sacks triggered panic among the staff and they immediately contacted our emergency rescue helpline number. The Wildlife SOS Rapid Response Unit successfully located the Cobra and carefully extricated it in an hour-long rescue operation.
In another instance, the team intervened in the nick of time to save an injured Common Sand Boa in Agra’s Arambagh area. On spotting the snake at a construction site, the workers alerted Wildlife SOS and the Rapid Response Unit immediately rushed to the location to extricate the snake. After keeping the snake under our care and administering proper care, it was released back into the wild once deemed fit by our veterinarians. In total, the Agra rescue helpline successfully carried out a total of 34 rescues. These include 9 reptiles, 11 birds (Indian Grey Hornbill, Eurasian Collared Dove, Black Kite to name a few), and 14 mammals including a spotted deer and a jungle cat.
Our team in the western part of the country was also on its toes and saved the lives of many animals. Most important of it all was the raid conducted by the Wildlife SOS-GSPCA (Gujarat Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) team, in assistance with the Gujarat Forest Department, which rescued many animals meant for illegal trade. A total of 18 parrots including 11 Alexandrine parakeets, shells, black corals and six genitals of monitor lizards were seized in the raid.
Apart from saving these animals from illegal trade, the Vadodara team also rescued other wildlife in distress. With a total of 79, bird rescues dominated the month of February, followed by 12 non-venomous snakes, three venomous snakes and six monkeys, among others.
Up north, in the union territory of Jammu & Kashmir, our team had to conduct two rescues in February albeit very important ones. Two barn owls were rescued from Srinagar district, one of them being from the Nishat area and the other one from Natipora area. In both the cases, local residents spotted the owls in a stressful situation and alerted the J&K rescue helpline. Once rescued, the birds were brought into the Wildlife SOS Dachigam Rescue Centre for treatment. After proper medical assessment, they were released into their natural habitat.
Every month we receive numerous calls regarding wildlife in distress and February was no different. Wildlife SOS operates 24×7 emergency rescue helplines in the following cities:
Delhi NCR – +91 9871963535
Agra & Mathura in Uttar Pradesh – +91 9917109666
Baroda, Gujarat – +91 9825011117
Jammu & Kashmir – +91 7006692300, +91 9419778280
If you ever come across any wild animal in distress, do alert our team on these numbers at the earliest!
