New Delhi: World Animal Day falls on October 4, and an animal protection activist of long standing, Mr. Ambani, Executive Director of the Reliance Industries, has initiated a campaign called Champions of Care, that is running nationwide via Vantara, as part of the week-long celebration. It is designed to provide short-, medium- and long-term assistance to groups around the country who take care of community animals.
Over 50 animal welfare groups from various states are connected to the programme. They take care of street dogs and cats, working animals like cattle, donkeys and horses as well as different types of rescued animals after being injured, abandoned or neglected. Many of these groups are operating animal hospitals, ambulances/traveling rescue services and long-term shelters. Vantara estimates that it can aid in the treatment, rescue, shelter and feeding of approximately 2 million animals per year.
The event was inaugurated at a two-day event in Jamnagar. The first day, the delegates visited Vantara’s facilities: rescued elephants and big cats were in the care centres while the herbivores, such as the bison and zebra, were in the open habitats. The objective was to demonstrate the ways in which the use of nutrition, veterinary care and housing conditions with community animals could be improved to reflect those of wildlife, the organisers said. Day 2 consisted of discussion, where organisations shared the problems they are facing and areas of need.
This meeting closed with the signing of a Letter of Understanding by Vantara and all the organisations that participated in the meeting. It establishes a plan for cooperation, exchanging knowledge, capacity development and hands-on assistance. In addition, every group was awarded a Certificate of Appreciation which was signed by Ambani.
The aid provided will include infrastructure, animal housing, ambulances and mobile service, animal rescue and diagnostic equipment, training for staff and set-up for life-long animal care. Infrastructure will be upgraded planned including solar power, rainwater collection and improved drainage. There were also requests for quarantine and disease-management facilities, due to the increased number of infectious diseases, and awareness campaigns for children and young people. The aim is to ensure that groups have sufficient capacity to rely less on short-term aid, says Vantara.
In a statement, Ambani said that people love animals without being known for it, with a few resources. He said Champions of Care is to work in tandem with them in creating a more compassionate India.
The Animal Welfare Board of India, the statutory body for animal welfare attended as eight members. S. P. Gupta, a board member and former chairman, commended the undertaking saying that animal care centres were very rarely equipped with such advanced technology. He also mentioned Ambani’s willingness to listen to the organisations regarding the ground reality.
The groups involving are Blue Cross of India, Chennai; CUPA, Bengaluru; Help in Suffering, Jaipur, multiple branches of People for Animals, and smaller shelters like Leh, Kullu, Agartala, Goa.
Vantara refers to Champions of Care as a “networking throng” and hopes that additional organisations can join in the future. The initiative builds on a commitment we have to ‘Every Life Matters’, but it broads the scope to encompass the animals that community groups all over the country daily care for beyond our own company’s programs.
