The weather teeter-tottered between heatwaves and erratic rains as April took over. The shift in temperature brought with it a change in human-wildlife interactions across spaces we share with life beyond homo sapiens.
From the colder terrains of Jammu & Kashmir to the hot, dry regions of Delhi NCR, Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat, Wildlife SOS’s Rapid Response Units stayed prepared and responded swiftly to calls of the wildlife in distress or danger.
Delhi NCR
In the early hours of a regular weekday, a distress call from a concerned resident of Harsh Vihar in North East Delhi alerted our Rapid Response Unit. Found struggling in a contaminated water body, was a 50 kg Indian flapshell turtle. Our team swiftly reached the location and carefully secured the turtle under its care, ensuring minimal stress to the animal. The reptile was then transferred to our Wildlife Transit Facility in Gurugram for expert medical intervention. Showing no signs of major injury, the turtle was soon released into a suitable aquatic habitat.
Did you know the Indian flapshell turtle (Lissemys punctata) derives its name from the skin flaps that cover its limbs? These turtles are vital scavengers and predators that help maintain aquatic ecosystems by consuming fish, snails and dead matter. Yet, increasing water pollution continues to shrink suitable habitats for such species which, in turn, disrupt urban ecosystems.
In another incident, new life was nurtured by our dedicated team. Just having been born, an infant rhesus macaque was discovered in the basement of a Gurugram residence. Sadly, its mother had passed away right after or while giving birth. The house owner carefully took the newborn monkey under their care, and promptly called our helpline for immediate professional assistance. Upon reaching the location, our rescue team thoroughly checked up on the fragile, frightened and extremely hungry infant. The newborn showed no signs of physical distress, and after being fed by our team, was shifted to the Wildlife SOS Transit Facility in Gurugram.
A total of 263 animals were rescued by our prompt team from Delhi, including 33 mammals, 50 reptiles and 180 birds.
Jammu & Kashmir
Harsh cold and torrential rains gripped the northern regions of India well into March and April, with temperatures dipping to negative degrees, making these the wettest months of the year in Kashmir. But temperatures began to rise again, and the reptiles in the valleys emerged from brumation – a hibernation-like state of dormancy common in their kind.
Near the Zabarwan Hills, there was an emergence of two Levantine vipers that led to a fascinating rescue by the Wildlife SOS Rapid Response Unit stationed in the valley. The pair of snakes was discovered basking in the sun in the same local villager’s cattle shed whose cow had succumbed to death after being bitten by the snake species in March. The willingness to preserve life overcame the feeling of vengeance when the local contacted our rescue helpline for immediate professional assistance. Upon reaching the location, the highly venomous snakes were carefully extracted using specialised equipment by our expert rescuers.
Levantine viper (Macrovipera lebetinus), also known as gunas in the local language, is an uncommon and rare species endemic to high elevations of Jammu & Kashmir.
The team in Jammu & Kashmir rescued a total of 26 animals that included 23 reptiles and 3 birds.
Uttar Pradesh
A crowd grew restless in Ummedpur village one morning, owing to an unusual presence in the neighborhood. Stranded and surrounded with no escape route, was a 7-feet-long mugger crocodile basking in the sun, its fate in the very hands of humanity. Responsible collaboration became the need of the hour. Upon receiving an alert, the forest department contacted Wildlife SOS for expert rescue assistance. From Mathura, our Rapid Response Unit prepared for swift intervention and travelled over 120 km to reach the location.
The police and forest officials had managed the inquisitive crowd, preventing the distressed reptile from wandering deeper into residences. This ensured the safety of everyone throughout the operation. Our team arrived and performed a thorough medical assessment of the crocodile. As soon as it was deemed fit to be released back into the wild, rescuers from the team moved fast and strategically laid out a trap cage for the animal and guided it inside.
Another interesting rescue call was received from Vikas colony on Anthela street, which is known for its luxury apartments. The area is an up and coming one, hence there is a lot of ground construction in progress. An empty field behind this residential society is proposed for building a mall in the near future. During the initial stage of the construction, the workers spotted a snake in a small burrow, and contacted Wildlife SOS. Our team acted rapidly and safely extricated a rat snake. Non-venomous in nature, the reptile was healthy and was released back into the wild.
Our Rapid Response Unit in Uttar Pradesh rescued a total of 115 animals in the month of April, including 30 reptiles, 44 birds and 41 mammals.
Gujarat
April saw a shifting weather, a mix of rains and sunny disposition of skies. It was a time for wildlife to actively seek out shelter in places of cover and shade. Reptiles especially needed a haven from the unpredictable conditions.
Gujarat saw a total of 32 animal rescues, including 25 reptiles, 3 birds and 4 mammals.
Our rescue teams, in coordination with local communities and forest departments, tended to precious wildlife in need of rescue, rehabilitation and safe release. While it is important to reach for your phone and call for assistance, it is also necessary to avoid uninformed actions that can add stress for the concerned animal. When dealing with wild individuals, one must remain sensitive and extremely mindful. If you find a wild animal in need of assistance, you can reach out to Wildlife SOS’s 24×7 helpline number and alert us:
Vadodara (Gujarat) – +91-9825011117
Jammu & Kashmir – +91-7006692300, +91-9419778280
Delhi-NCR – +91-9871963535
Agra, Mathura (Uttar Pradesh) – +91-9917109666
Feature Image: Chinmoy Swargairy/Wildlife SOS
