Why do we need Wildlife Hospitals in cities like Bangalore?

Why do we need Wildlife Hospitals in cities like Bangalore?

What is a wildlife hospital doing in a city? We often face this question when we work with the public to spread awareness about ecological conservation and wildlife protection. The answer could be unearthed from another couple of questions. Are people aware of the fact that Bangalore is only second to Delhi in its urban wildlife density amongst the metro cities in India? Have we appreciated the role of ecology and wildlife in shaping the city as we know it today?

Bangalore, The Garden City of India, was built and thrived around the Raja Kaluves or Canals. These canals and the ecology surrounding it played a significant role in the city’s flourish and this noteworthy ecological balance has been the face of Bangalore until recently. The canopy of trees that adorned the roadsides are fast disappearing, the climate of the city is undergoing drastic changes, the lakes that were critical in the city’s sustainability are turning into sewage dump yards. Over the years, we have forgotten the very reason that made Bangalore what it is – it’s nature!

Though the city has undergone drastic changes in recent years, it has also shown its mettle to persist. People have started to come forward, alone or in groups, to conserve its soul! Though it’s daunting, it’s not an impossible task. And each of us has a role to play in this strive. Wildlife plays an important role as much as the ecology in the city’s sustainability. Our experience over the years suggests that wildlife has a crucial say in the ecological sustainability of a city. From vector and disease control to sustenance of food chains and climate control, their role is inevitable in an ecological structure.

Bangalore is home to a huge biodiversity of flora and fauna. We, as conscientious citizens, have a big role to play in sustaining our city. The only way to cease our city from going into oblivion is by conserving its ecology and wildlife. Hence, the survival of our city and its fate rests on our hands.

We, at PfA Wildlife Hospital and Rescue Centre, have been able to rescue more than 25,815 wild animals of our city. This includes commonly found species and the ones that we weren’t aware that they could exist among us in an urban environment. From deer, macaques and kites to pangolins, civet cats and slender lorises, this city is theirs as much as it is ours.