(IN) College student nabs two illegal bird-sellers

[Guest guest]

Dear All,

 

Checkout today's Mumbai Mirror Page - 10. PAWS Bird rescue appeared.

Good work done by Volunteers Kartick & Saurabh.

 

Nilesh Bhanage

www.pawsasia.org <http://www.pawsasia.org/ <http://www.pawsasia.org/> >

" Hands that help are holier than lips that pray. "

 

 

College student nabs two illegal bird-sellers

 

Kartik Thevar saw them betting over these chicken, which had been dyed

with toxic paints

 

By Nilesh Nikade

Posted On Friday, January 30, 2009 at 02:26:33 AM

A Dombivli college student nabbed two illegal bird-sellers who had

squeezed more than 100 birds into a cardboard carton. When questioned

about it, the duo fled, leaving it behind. Unaware of what to do with

the birds, the student approached an animal welfare NGO for help.

 

On his way back home from college on Thursday, Kartik Thevar, 20, an

engineering student came across the two bird-sellers near the Dombivli

market. Thevar said, " I saw these bird-sellers betting over these

chicken, which had been coloured. They had stuffed around 100 chicken in

the carton. I had heard that such things are illegal and began to ask

them about what they were doing. "

 

When Kartik began questioning them, the duo became suspicious and when

he threatened to call the police, they fled. " I followed them through

narrow lanes for quite a distance. On realising that it was a waste of

time, I returned and saw that the chicken had been left behind, " he

said.

 

Kartik then contacted Saurabh Chougule, 20, who works with Plants and

Animal Welfare Society (PAWS). The students then took the birds away.

Nearly a dozen birds had died due to suffocation inside the carton.

Sourabh said, " We fed the surviving birds with water and grains and

transferred them into a large bird carrier provided by PAWS. At the NGO,

attempts were made to rid the birds of the toxic colours, with which

they had been painted, " he said.

 

Nilesh Bhanage, founder of PAWS said, " These sellers have a cruel

process of colouring these chicken. They tie their beaks and throw them

into liquid colours. The birds are then strung up till the colours dry. "

 

Under Section 11 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animal Act of 1950,

such acts can be punished. Those found guilty of such acts can be

punished with a fine or imprisonment for three months, or both.

 

Manasi Bhanage, co-founder of PAWS said, " Only 96 birds have survived.

They are being transferred to activist Fiza Shah's farmhouse.