Walk with the wild side: Celebrating PFA’s 36000th rescue in Bengaluru

Celebrating PFA’s 36000th rescue in Bengaluru

Most people equate wildlife with creatures in the jungle; somehow cats, dogs and the occasional cow blocking their car do not make the cut for them. Yet, there is a wealth of urban wildlife sharing our cityscape, of which we are woefully ignorant.

People For Animals (PFA) has organised month-long activities to mark their 36,000th rescue and celebrate their stories of “hope and healing”. From bat and bird walks and a guided tour of their wildlife hospital to contests, activities and workshops, the events are designed to bring about a greater appreciation for our furred and feathered fellow creatures.

Since pets have almost always had access to healthcare, PFA was established in Bengaluru in the 1990s to provide aid for those animals that did not fall in that category.In the past 27 years, PFA has seen unplanned urbanisation, indiscriminate clearing of land and encroachment of lakes in the city, which has resulted in animals being displaced from their natural habitat.

Despite the challenges faced in this fast-growing, fast-paced city, PFA too, has kept pace in its own way. “We began with very few vehicles to use for emergencies. Today, we have five four-wheelers and six two-wheelers for our rescue operations as well as a wildlife rescue ambulance permanently stationed at Yelahanka to save those precious minutes which are crucial to life saving,” says Col Dr Nawaz Shariff, GM and Chief Veterinarian at the PFA Wildlife Hospital.

A former Indian Army vet who retired in 2017 after 30 years of service, Nawaz says there has been an increased in involvement from residents in the city. “People are coming forward to sponsor an ambulance or allow it to be parked in their apartment, helping us establish a node for operations. The ambulance at Yelahanka sees close to four to five rescues a day,” he says, adding, “Rescue, Recovery, Rehabilitation and Relief are the four Rs on which PFA operates.”

“There has been a dramatic change over the past few years. Parents are making conscious efforts to see their children are involved with what goes on in the environment. Schools and colleges are also taking a proactive approach by arranging school visits and ensuring social work is part of the curriculum for students,” adds Nawaz.

“In the initial years, we were helped by the efforts of a lot of volunteers who aided the main people at the helm of affairs. Even today, we have a strong programme for volunteers and interns, who come from all over. We see parents come in with children as young as six and seven to volunteer,” says Sneha Prasad Salgame, Manager for Communications at PFA.