Maharashtra: Help pours in for starving dogs, monkeys at Elephanta island

Animal lovers NGOs and a wellknown private company have come forward to rescue the malnourished stray dogs and monkeys at Elephanta Island whose plight was highlighted in midday on Monday In lsquoMoved by plight of strays on Elephanta tourist raises alarmrsquo midday reported that the animals are surviving on the leftovers of tourists who visit the historic cavesmidday has learnt that these good Samaritans sent dry rations including rice 80 kg dog food and 35 kg cooked chicken rice for the stray dogs and 2000 bananas for the monkeys on Wednesday The food was handed over by volunteers to a village sarpanch on the island Villagers who would feed the strays but couldnrsquot feed so many have been requested to feed the animalsVolunteers also took medicines for injured and sick dogs right the cooked rice and chicken taken for the stray dogsAn animal loverrsquos group involved in the rescue told midday that they will regularly give the strays food A conglomerate with interests in textiles rubber chemicals Information Technology real estate etc also approached midday and intends to supply food to the stray animals at the historical place They also want to sterilise the stray dogs on Elephanta IslandAlso Read Moved by plight of strays on Elephanta tourist raises alarmConcerned touristLast week a French and Israeli national Jeannette Thomas who works for the United Nations as the head of mission in humanitarian emergencies brought the plight of the animals to the notice of people when she posted the pictures of the malnourished stray dogs on social mediaThomas visited Elephanta Caves on September 27 and said there were more than 400 stray dogs and numerous troops of monkeys on the island struggling to get foodSanjeev Chopra who runs Furbabies Rescue Group with his friends and Savita Mahajan of ARAC an NGO for animal rescue together sent the food and fruits for the animals at Elephanta Island on Wednesday An ARAC team went to Elephanta Island with the food They also kept some extra food for the dogs and monkeys with the sarpanch Baliram ThakurAnimal lovers actSpeaking to midday Chopra said ldquoWe are not an NGO but a group of people who look after stray dogs After reading the article in midday we packed food and on Wednesday we sent a team from ARAC to Elephanta Island to feed the dogs We will continue this in future so that the dogs get sufficient nutrition We also sent medicines for the dogs which are injured and sickrdquoldquoEarlier there was a tradition that people would make an extra roti for cows or crows and dogs in India Now no one follows this This is why now stray animals are not getting food I request citizens to help the stray dogs We are not demanding any donations or contributions from anyone I just request tourists that whenever you visit Elephanta carry some dog food and hand it to the locals to feed the strays thererdquo added ChopraThomas said ldquoI am really thankful to midday for highlighting this issue and helping the dogs and monkeys I really love India where people help poor animals without any profit I am thankful to these feeders In my wonderful journey to Elephanta Caves I got the chance to help animalsrdquoCompanyrsquos businessA wellknown conglomerate also approached midday and asked the local sarpanchrsquos contact details to look after the dogs and monkeys at Elephanta IslandThe HR head of the company said ldquoOur company is involved in social work and also works for animal welfare in India We read the article about the deplorable conditions of the dogs and monkeys on Elephanta Island We sent a team to Elephanta Island to check the number of stray dogs After the count we have got together some people and will send food with them for the animals there We will also take care of the monkeys and regularly send fruits for them Hopefully our work will start in the coming weekrdquoSarpanch Thakur said ldquoThanks to midday for highlighting this issue and helping the villagers I received many calls from NGOs and help has started pouring in for the animals from Wednesdayrdquo