Rescue Heroes of Bengaluru!

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When stuck in a situation of rescuing an animal, especially urban wildlife, the reporters often find themselves clueless about their next steps. 'What to do till the rescuers arrive? What if I do something that causes more harm than good? Am I supposed to do something or just stand here?' These thoughts are common to get if you have never rescued urban wildlife before. Species classified under urban wildlife are not particularly friendly with humans. Unlike comforting a dog, cat, or cow, comforting urban wildlife is harder, considering the spike in their anxiety when we go closer to them. 

So what can we do as reporters to keep the animal as well as the people around safe? 


Snakes 

Bangalore has a rich variety of snakes. These snakes are now victims of urbanization. We often get rescue calls about injured snakes or displaced snakes. Sometimes they enter areas in search of food. Here's what you should do till the rescuers arrive - 

● Step away from the snake slowly. They react to vibrations they receive from the earth. Running around them will make them defensive and they may attack you in defense
● Do not go near them or touch them with a stick
● Keep an eye on the snake from a distance. Ensure no one goes near them or tries to interact with them
● Inform the rescuers about any behavioural cues you noticed while waiting.  Snakes are not attackers. They keep their distance from humans and attack only when they sense vibrations that could harm them. Avoid walking a lot or running around them 

Birds 

Bangalore is home to many endemic and migratory birds. Birds get really anxious around humans. There have been cases where the bird died due to anxiety from human interaction. Here's what you can do to ensure the bird is safe - 

● Maintain as little human interaction as possible
● Cover their eyes with a cotton cloth so that they can't see you approaching them. Pick them up gently with the cloth wrapped. Place them in a ventilated box/carton
● Keep a small water bowl
● Do not try to force-feed them. Especially cooked food. Cooked food is harmful to birds and causes many digestive issues
● Keep the box in a quiet, dark place
● Do not touch the box until the rescuers arrive

A Barn Owl at the rescue location

Macaques 

Macaques roam in a troop. Singling one of them into a corner to rescue them is a task accomplished by experienced rescuers. For your safety, it is better not to approach the injured macaque. Here is what you can do to help - 

● Observe the injured monkey from a distance. Try to make a video of the monkey and their troop if you can spot them
● Place some fruits and a water container
● Do not attempt to interact with them. Monkey bites are dangerous as they can transmit rabies ● Keep observing the injured monkey and the troop members until rescuers arrive 

Rescuing an animal and saving a life is a collaborative effort. From being a caring reporter to a spontaneous rescuer to a knowledgeable vet to an understanding rehabilitator, rescuing involves a lot of people and hard work. 

We hope these tips will help you keep the animal safe till the rescuer can take over. Reach out to us on our free helpline number 9900025370 when you see urban wildlife in need of rescue. 







Authored by Praanjali Shukla, Volunteer@ PfA Bangalore.


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