Wild Animal, Birds and Reptiles Rescues from Unprotected Open Wells, Bore Wells and Water Tanks for Last Three Years by Animal Rahat

JOURNAL OF WILDLIFE RESEARCH Journal homepage: www.jakraya.com/journal/jwr

STUDY REPORT Wild Animal, Birds and Reptiles Rescues from Unprotected Open Wells, Bore Wells and Water Tanks for Last Three Years by Animal Rahat

1* Chittora R.K., 2Upreti N.C., 3Jadhav A.S., 4Yadav C.D., 5Bhise P.R., 6Naik K.P. and 7Pol K.K.

1Senior Veterinary Trainer, 2Chief Operating Officer, 3Veterinary Field Officer, 4Clinical Quality Assurance Manager, 5Veterinary Field Officer, 6Community Facilitator and Animal Rescue Officer, 7Animal Welfare Inspector, Animal Rahat, Post Box No-30 Pin 416416, Maharashtra, India.

Abstract The open wells, bore wells and water tanks (storage of water in big

ponds on ground in advance system of agriculture) are the means of

irrigation in most part of India but on the other hand these open wells, bore wells and water tanks are unprotected from top, while guidelines for *Corresponding Author: protecting of these structures are in the system. These unprotected open wells, bore wells and water tanks are nightmare for wild animals, they fall Chittora R. K. down into these structures accidentally when they are chased by other Email: [email protected] predator species or while playing or fighting with each other. Animal Rahat has rescued 43 wild animals, birds and reptiles including 10 species; namely Indian foxes, Jackals, Civets, Wolf, Indian spectacled cobra, Received: 11/05/2020 Russell’s viper, Indian rat snakes, Monitor lizard, Crocodile, Pea fowls Accepted: 25/05/2020 from these unprotected structures in last 3 years’ period i.e. from April 2017 to March 2020. Appropriate equipment’s, trained persons, and veterinarians along with rapid actions are necessary for rescue of these wild species without harming them as well as humans. Awareness amongst people also helps in rescuing wild species from such conditions in time which is also important aspect for saving their life.

: Rappelling, Awareness, Trained persons, Rescues, Wild Key words animals. 1. Introduction people go near to well. Sometime people also do not India is the country where economy is based on want to inform authorities, rescue workers etc. as they agriculture. Agriculture is owned by small land holders do understand that these animals might be harmful for and irrigation is dependent on river, canal, ground them like poisonous reptiles, porcupine for their water, tank etc. and ground water irrigation system is agriculture etc. and they leave them to die. Sometimes largest system of irrigation and this ground water is even they want to save them but due to unawareness, harvested through open wells and bore wells in India. they leave them to die and do not try to find any rescue India is the biggest user of ground water in the world workers, forest department or their contact number. which is drawing around 230 cubic kilometre per year Open wells are open from top (Fig 1-2), deep (NDRF SOP on bore well incident report ). Open wells enough, no fence for protection, top of the well is are perhaps the earliest system to harvest ground water surrounded by grasses, tree which are also dangerous and still they are in practice. Generally, these open for animals because they fall down accidentally while wells are not covered or protected by farmers, while walking, playing or being traced by some other animals guidelines of central and various state government are etc. In Solapur district – wells which are not having any placed in system for protecting or covering all open water many years, people have hope that well will get wells and bore wells. Wild species falls down in these filled with water in future. Such type of empty wells are open wells when they are chased by predator species, not filled by mud or any other things and hence these when they were fighting each other or accidentally fall type of wells are more dangerous for animals. down in these open wells due to low visibility during Open water tank (Fig 3) is also a new concept rainy season (Gubbi et al., 2019). These open wells are for storage of water for irrigation purpose in India, deep enough and once animals fall down in well, they where farmers construct an open water tank and layer it are unable to come out on their own and their lives are using polythene sheet for storing water when water is at risk. These animals can be in well for long time if no available and then it is used by farmers for irrigating one traces them and they die due to starvation, injuries their crops. Most of these water tanks are deep enough etc. Gubbi et al . (2019) reported 11 percent leopards and their surface is covered by plastic sheet to prevent died after falling down in well in the period of 2008 to percolation of water, these water tanks are never 2017. These only can be traced or come in notice when protected from sides. Once the animals fall down in

Journal of Wildlife Research | April-June, 2020 | Volume 08 | Issue 02 | Pages 28-32 © 2020 Jakraya Chittora et al…Wild Animal, Birds and Reptiles Rescues from Unprotected Open Wells, Bore Wells and Water Tanks since Last Three Years by Animal Rahat these water tanks, they cannot come out on their own (Fig 7), Indian foxes (Fig 8-10), Indian Jackal (Fig 11- because they cannot climb up due to inclination and 13), Wolf, Indian spectacled cobra snake (Fig 14-16), slippery surface due to plastic sheet. Russell’s viper snake (Fig 17-20), Indian Rat Snakes (Fig 21), Monitor lizards (Fig 22), Peafowls (Fig 23- 2. Rescue Protocols and Techniques 26), Porcupine, crocodile etc. Animal Rahat has standard protocol for rescue of wild species. As soon as the Animal Rahat team 3. Discussion receives information about any wild species who has The growing human population, deforestation, fallen down in an open well, bore well or water tank loss of habitat, advancement in agriculture technology etc., they gather detailed information over phone from put wild animals on risk as a result human wildlife the caller, then they immediately inform concerned conflict arises (Roshnath et al., 2017), animals fall forest department about the incidence. Thereafter a down in well in search of water or falling down in well team of trained persons who can rappel down in well accidentally while playing or fighting or chased by (Figure 4-6) is formed including the wild animal other predator species. handler, veterinarian and para veterinarian staff, having Wild animals are decreasing and reaching to all rappelling equipment’s, cages, net etc. After extinction because of injury and death caused by reaching the spot, the team observes the situation, humans; these can be either accidental, such as road controls the crowd and makes a plan to rescue the wild traffic and railway accidents, capture in snares set for animal as per the specific wild species who has fallen other species or from falling into farm wells, or down in the well. Immediately after rescuing the intentional, caused by retaliatory shooting, poison or animal, veterinarian examines the animal, after capture. Such human-induced mortality affects not only thorough examination if the animal is found healthy, the population viability of some of the most endangered then the rescue team takes the animals to their natural species, but also has broader environmental impacts on habitat and releases them in presence of the forest ecosystem equilibrium and biodiversity preservation department personnel. If the animal looks exhausted (Human-Wildlife Conflict: Issues and Managements- and requires rest and treatment for some time, then January 2015) rescue team keeps the rescued wild species at forest Well and water tank without fence and bore well department premises and then after recovery, releases without caps always pose risk for human and animal them in their natural habitat. After rescue of wild life. NDRF SOP on bore well incident report says that species from the situation, Animal Rahat rescue team 40 human life fell down in bore wells since 2009. members explain the people gathered during rescue and These wells, bore well/tube well need to be covered and the well owner about how these wild species are filled up to ground level if there is no use to prevent important for them and they should save them. As soon falling of human life and supreme court of India has as they find these animals are in danger, they must issued a guideline on 11 th February 2010. inform concerned authority immediately. Animal Every day national and local newspaper Rahat’s staffs have gone through intensive rappelling published reports about rescue of wild animals from training and have necessary rappelling tools which are well, water pond etc. Times of India published news on used for rescue of animals from such situations and this 28 th October 2018 titled Junnar forest officials rescued is the most important part of any animal rescue from 50 wild animals from wells this year (The rescued such situations. animals included leopards, foxes, wolves and deer, who had accidentally fallen into ponds, wells and lakes in No. of Animal search of food), News 18 published news on 19 th July S. No. Species Rescued 2019 titled 4-Year-Old Leopard Fell Down a Well In 1. Indian Fox 5 Pune, Rescued By Wildlife Officials, Times of India 2. Jackal 6 also published news on 27 th March 2017 titled Python 3. Civet Cat 2 trapped inside 40 foot deep uncovered well rescued. 4. Wolf 1 Hindustan Times also reported on 8 th March 2017, 5. Indian Rat snake 5 Indian Spectacle titled Open wells are hazardous for wildlife: 1500 6 Cobra 7 animals died in last 10 years including leopards, 7 Russell's viper 12 jackals, civets, jungle cats, wolves and hyenas. 8 Monitor Lizard 1 Ghule et al. (2014) reported uncovered well are 9 Crocodile 1 unsafe and animals fall down. Gubbi et al. (2019) also 10 Peafowl 3 reported wildlife species fall into open wells including Bengal fox (Vulpes bengalensis), sloth bear (Melursus In last three years (April 2017 – March 2020) ursinus), small Indian civet (Viverricula indica), Animal Rahat has saved the life of 43 wild animals, elephant (Elephas maximus), gaur (Bos gaurus), sambar birds and reptiles of 10 different species from open (Rusa unicolor), black buck (Antilope cervicapra), wells, water tanks, bore wells in Solapur and Sangli chital (Axis axis), muntjac (Muntiacus vaginalis) and districts of Maharashtra. These species were Civet Cat

Journal of Wildlife Research | April-June, 2020 | Volume 08 | Issue 02 | Pages 28-32 © 2020 Jakraya 29 Chittora et al…Wild Animal, Birds and Reptiles Rescues from Unprotected Open Wells, Bore Wells and Water Tanks since Last Three Years by Animal Rahat

Fig 1-2: Open wells are not protected by any type of fence (1- Indian Rat snakes Fig 3: Open water tank constructed for were rescued and 2- Russell’s viper was rescued) irrigation – an Indian Spectacled Cobra was th rescued at Sangli district on 30 May, 2019

Fig 4,5,6: Trained Animal Rahat staffs rappelled down for rescuing the animals – trained staff with rappelling tools are the most important part of rescue of animals from wells

Fig 7: Civet Cat rescued from deep well Fig 8-9: Rescue of a cape fox from an open well by trained staff on 07 th October on 03 rd August, 2017 at Pandharpur 2018 at Sangli district Taluka, Solapur district

Fig 10: Indian fox was rescued from an Fig 11: Indian Jackal Rescued from an Fig 12: Indian Jackal was rescued from open well on 27 th September 2018 open well at Solapur district on an open well at Sangli district on at Sangli district 06th July, 2017 01 st Nov, 2019

Fig 13: Indian Jackal was rescued from Fig 14: Indian spectacled Cobra snake Fig 17: Russell’s viper was rescued an open well at Pandharpur on 10 th was rescued from an open well on from an open well on 10 th May, February, 2020 17 th September 2018 2019

Journal of Wildlife Research | April-June, 2020 | Volume 08 | Issue 02 | Pages 28-32 © 2020 Jakraya 30 Chittora et al…Wild Animal, Birds and Reptiles Rescues from Unprotected Open Wells, Bore Wells and Water Tanks since Last Three Years by Animal Rahat

Fig 15-16: Indian spectacled cobra was rescued from bore well at Pandharpur Fig 18: Russell’s viper snake was Taluka, district Solapur on 10 th December 2019 rescued from a water tank at Sangli district on 28 th January 2020

Fig 19: Russell’s viper snake was Fig 20: Russell’s viper snake fell Fig 21: Indian Rat Snake was rescued rescued from an open well at down in a deep open well, who from an open well on 24 th April, Solapur district on 14 th January was rescued 2019 2020

Fig 22: Monitor Lizard was rescued Fig 23-24: Peahen was rescued from an open well on 23rd May 2017 from an open well on 21 st September, 2019

Fig 25-26: Peahen was rescued from an open well on 23rd July, 2017, Peahen was infected with suspected infectious coryza disease mugger crocodile (Crocodylus palustris). These Spectacled Cobra, Russell’s viper, Indian Rat Snake, incidents resulted into 11 mortalities. Monitor Lizard and these are the common species Animal Rahat teams of Solapur and Sangli which are found in these area of Maharashtra in districts of Maharashtra rescuing 43 wild animals, birds agreement of book titled Birds and Mammals of Nannaj and reptiles of 10 different species in 3-year’s time by Satish Pande et al. (2017) and reptiles of Northern indicates that many wild species are falling down in Western Ghats by Pande (2019). open wells, water tanks/ponds and bore wells and these Pea fowls were found in well were affected with are the only cases which are reported to Animal Rahat respiratory diseases as birds where showing symptoms and there might be chances that many cases have not of discharge from nostrils, excessive lacrimation, been reported due to unawareness, ignorance of people, swelling around eyes, dull, depressed (suspected human animal conflict and animal dying due to infectious coryza). They were treated and recovered starvation and injuries. well in 10-15 days’ time and released in their natural Mammal and reptiles were rescued from well habitat. were Indian foxes, Jackal, Wolf, Porcupine, Indian

Journal of Wildlife Research | April-June, 2020 | Volume 08 | Issue 02 | Pages 28-32 © 2020 Jakraya 31 Chittora et al…Wild Animal, Birds and Reptiles Rescues from Unprotected Open Wells, Bore Wells and Water Tanks since Last Three Years by Animal Rahat

Rescue of animals from such type of situation equipment, trained persons will always be beneficial for need appropriate equipment, trained persons which is in saving life of animals without harming them as well as agreement of Gubbi et al . (2019) who mentioned need human life. Awareness must be created among people of appropriate equipment’s, ability to respond in timely about immediate reporting of findings of wild animals manner, crowd handling skill, need to prevent harm to in threat and they need to understand that how wild animals and humans. Roshnath et al. (2017) also animals are important. emphasized a skilled and well equipped rescue team should be the major consideration in rescue and Acknowledgement rehabilitation of wild animal’s activity. Special thanks to other Animal Rahat staffs Roshnath et al. (2017) also mentioned that named Mr. Anand Birajdar, Mr. Madhavanand Pawar, human-animal conflicts mostly result due to lack of Mr. Bhimashankar Vijapure, Dr. Avinash Visalkar, Mr. awareness. Awareness program can change the attitude Prasad Suryawanshi, Mr. Shashikar Bharadwaj, Mr. of people towards wildlife which is crucial for Dilip Singhana who were involved in rescue of these conservation. animals and also thanks to forest department of Maharashtra who acted on time, helped for rescue and 4. Conclusions release of animals in their natural habitats. Also special Unprotected open wells, water tanks, bore wells thanks to animal friend/volunteers who supported must be protected from top/ sides to prevent falling Animal Rahat teams while rescuing these animals. down of animals or human beings. Appropriate

References Ghule A, Athreya V, Linnell J and Odden M (2014). Pande S, Vishwasrao V, Pandit R and Barbhai U (2019). Waghobatales_Adventures in Leopard Land , November Reptiles of northern western ghats . Published by Ela 2014. Foundation, Pune. Pp 1-176 . Gubbi S, Kolekar A, Chakkraborty P and Kumara V (2019). Roshnath R and Jayaprasad D (2017). A review on wildlife Big cat in well: an unconventional threat to leopards in rescue activities In North Kerala, India. Indian southern India. Oryx : Fauna and Flora International, 1- Forester, 143(10): 1004-1010. 3. doi:10.1017/S0030605319000280. Supreme Court of India issued guideline on 11 th February Hindustan Times (2017). Open wells are a hazardous for 2010. Writ petition (civil) no(s). 36 of 2009 in re- wildlife: 1500 animals died in last 10 year. Published on measures for prevention of fatal accidents of small 8th March 2017. children due to their falling into abandoned bore wells Mardaraj PC and Seth J (2015). Human-wildlife conflict: and tube wells. issues and Mmanagements. 1 st Edition, Himalaya Times of India (2017). Python trapped inside 40 foot deep Publishing House, pp 158-173. uncovered well rescued. Published on 27 th March 2017. News 18 (2019). 4-year-old leopard fell down a well in Pune, Times of India (2018). Junnar forest officials rescue 50 wild rescued by wildlife officials. Published/Aired on 19 th animals from wells this year. Published on 28 th October July 2019. 2018. Pande S, Deshpande P, Limaye S, Pawar R and Lonkar R (2017). Birds and Mammals of Nanaj. Published by Ela Foundation, Pune. Pp 1-120 .