PfA Wildlife Rescue and Conservation Centre

Over the years and throughout human history, we all may have come across stories of wildlife in captivity. Through tales of exotic birds with clipped wings in tiny little cages or an aquarium full of fish swimming in the same small circles, we are shown that wildlife has been readily domesticated to fit the criteria of the ‘ideal’ pet or companion that one could have. With wild animals especially, pet owners attempt to teach them how to be civilised and more suitable for them, which really takes away from the essence of their primitive nature. Most of these ‘exotic pets’ thrive best in their natural habitat, the wild. Though a commendable amount of awareness has been created on this topic, some individuals still seem to keep these animals caged and trapped for their own personal gain.                                      Red-eared sliders are known to destroy the local biodiversity if released...

The natural world is an intricate and ever-evolving realm that functions similarly to a giant organism, with each of its elements, living and nonliving, acting as its various organs. Birds, animals, trees, water, soil, and all of its components exist in a precarious balance, forming delicate relationships with one another that collectively work towards maintaining this balance, much like the various organ systems in our bodywork towards keeping us alive. Over the course of time, several species have gone extinct for various reasons. Many of these species died out as they did not possess certain adaptations that enabled them to thrive in constantly changing environments, in a process known as natural selection. Those that possessed these genetic mutations to adapt, survived, and thrived in these new environmental conditions, thus undergoing the process of evolution to become new species, the species that we see living in the world around us today. At certain times in the past, due to va...

The term Raptor describes several species of birds, also known by the term Birds of Prey, that hunt on prey that are vertebrates and generally feed upon prey that is relatively large for their size. This includes Kites, Eagles, Hawks, and Owls among others. The word Raptor comes from the Latin word Rapere, meaning "to seize" or take by force, which is instantly evocative of the way they hunt: picture an eagle diving mid-flight to swiftly seize up a rat and then taking off into the sky with its prey. Over time Raptors have come to possess certain adaptations through evolution that enable them to hunt better. They are equipped with a sharp and long-distance vision to spot prey from large distances as well as while in flight. In fact, Eagles are known to be able to see clearly eight times as far as humans can. Raptors are also equipped with powerful talons to grasp their prey, and a strong curved beak adapted to tearing flesh. While the Birds of Prey are specially adapted to hun...

The city of Bengaluru is a quintessential example of the concrete jungle, a title we have come to use to describe the habitat of the human species. It symbolises the pinnacle of industrial and technological advancement, a sprawling abode of skyscrapers and flyovers entirely constructed by us. And yet, as is true for any ecosystem in our vast home, planet Earth, we inevitably share our spaces with a wide variety of other species. These species coexist with us and directly or indirectly support us as well as depend upon us in an intricate web of connections that together define the urban ecosystem. These species that live amongst the asphalt roads and glass facades, within pockets of parks and mini-forests, on tree-tops along avenues or in nooks and crannies of human residences, perhaps even in your own backyard, together have come to be known as Urban Wildlife. These animals are our neighbours and call the city their home as well. They are sometimes coy and conspicuous, while at other ...

       The summer season is here or rather has been here for a while now. While we enjoy the mango season making delicacies and lounge in front of coolers, our animal friends won't have it easy. The sun is getting stronger with every passing year due to climate change. Often, our animal friends end up severely starved and dehydrated. Just in two months, we have rescued over 200 kites that fell victim to the harsh summer breeze.  A dehydrated Barbet moments before rescue     How can we keep them safe? Is there anything we can do for the urban wildlife while continuing to maintain no physical contact? Yes, there are ways and we will definitely tell you!  1. Keep water bowls - Water is a scarce resource to procure from natural outlets during summers. Lakes and ponds dry up. Small potholes on the corner of the roads dry up too, leaving no water for the animals. Place a big bowl of water inside your compound, terrace, or balcony which can help birds ...

Are you also troubled by rats? the pesky little beings that are very tough to get rid of? Rats are responsible for causing over 35 diseases. The most common of them are Hantavirus, leptospirosis, tularemia, and plague. Once we come in contact with their feces, urine, skin, teeth, or even ticks and fleas who live in the infected rat, we are prone to catching the deadly viruses, known as vector-borne diseases. Even if they brush through our clothes, it can be enough to transfer the virus to humans. These viruses or bacteria can enter our system through inhalation, cuts, and scratches, through the lining of the throat, mouth, and eyes, and even through the pores of our skin. Rats also weaken the structure of our houses and if they lay teeth on electrical wiring, it may lead to short circuits. Now that we know how life-threatening rats can be, what if we told you that no artificial substance is needed to get rid of them? Interested? Read on! Bangalore is rich in Urban Wildlife a...

Since childhood, we have been told the role of forests in our lives. How forest covers are responsible for purifying the oxygen, keeping the soil layers intact, and maintaining the groundwater levels. How forests provide us with basic needs like medicines and materials for food and shelter. How forests protect the animals and birds which are important to maintain the ecosystem on earth. As we grow up, capitalism takes over and we forget our forests. Our aim is to earn money, and for that, we need to join an office or meet this important college deadline or take that extra course for our resume. We completely ignore the more important things, the things which sustain us.  With increasing global warming and dying forests, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 21st March as World Forestry Day, one day dedicated to highlighting the importance of forests and remind people of this irreplaceable resource. The theme of 2021 is "Forests and Biodiversity" which aims to spread ...