Scenario of Animal Welfare during CORONA

Animal welfare refers to the state of the animal; the treatment that an animal receives is covered by other terms such as animal care, animal husbandry, and humane treatment. Protecting an animal’s welfare means providing for its physical and mental needs. Animal Welfare Principles –Animals must be provided water, food, proper handling, health care, and an environment appropriate to their care and use, with thoughtful consideration for their species- typical biology and behavior.  Animals should be cared for in ways that minimize fear, pain, stress, and suffering.

Tips upon care for animals

• Be kind to animals.
• Do not throw stones or beat them.
• Stop friends from being cruel to animals.
• Do not allow children to tie a thread to the tails of animals.
• If you have pets, feed them well and give them a proper and in an emergency proper medical care.
• When you visit the zoo, learn about the animals that are found there but do not tease or hurt them through the bars of their cage.
• Do not disturb or destroy the natural freedom of any animal.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has clarified that dogs and cats are not involved in spreading infection in the current episode of coronavirus infection. However , few tigers in US have been found to be suffered from COVID 19 Infection. It may be due to transmission of infection from  animal to human being“.

The Animal Welfare  Board has already issued an advisory to the State governments and UTs to see that the stray animals are taken care of by the local bodies as it their responsibility, ”In this scenario of COVID19, the lockdown has been disproportionately harsh on them as humans have retreated and restaurants, roadside eateries and tea shops have shut, leaving the ‘streetwise’ no option but to scavenge their last refuge- the quintessential garbage bins from road sides are the only solutions for them. Starving, confused, restless and moving outside their territories searching for food and water, competition intense for the limited food, fighting and cowering, a cocktail of primal fear and basic instinct- a struggle for survival are now the big challenges for  animals. So, we people have our responsibility to  provide feed and water to our nearby stray animals, Pet animals are also good friends  and company  of us at this time of lockdown. They are really a true means to overcome our loneliness and stress. Pets can also protect from stress and may changed behaviour and mood of their owner due to lockdown.

In this situation we too our duty is to take proper care of them. Pets can be given alternate feed during lockdown period.due to unavailability of their choice of food., Wild animals are feeling free that no body is here now to destroy our natural habitat. They are feeling fearless to move on the street and even in the residential area of human being. Through media we are receiving many news of  wandering animals such as panther, group of elephants , group of lambs, ducks , monkeys etc on the road near the residential areas. Thus lockdown has changed the scenario of  natural life now.