Are We ReAdY To TaKe the Call!!!

Wildlife rescue: SoWL, Bangalore

SoWL (Save our Wild Life) is the wildlife wing of the NGO PfA (People for Animals). It works mainly for the rescue-rehabilitation-release of wildlife in and around Bangalore. The urban wildlife in and around Bangalore includes reptiles like snakes, monitor lizards and turtles, birds like kites, egrets, herons, swifts, owls, eagles, munias, parakeets, mynahs, peacocks, mammals like mongoose, pangolins, jackals, spotted deer etc.

SoWL has a wildlife rehabilitation centre in Uttarahalli, near Kengeri on the outskirts of the city. A vet there treats animals brought in by SoWL’s team of dedicated volunteers. Some important success stories of the rehabilitation centre include treatment and release of:
- Cobra that was severely injured after being caught in barbed wire (after being chased by people)
- Egrets injured by stoning
- Malnourished juvenile pond heron
- Juvenile tawny eagle (a rare species around Bangalore)
- Injured and malnourished rat snakes seized from snake-charmers
- 4 pangolins, one suffering from bruises and high temperature (captive feeding of pangolins is quite tricky since their diet only consists of huge quantities of ants and termites)
- Malnourished sand boa seized from snake charmer
- Malnourished monitor lizards seized from peddlers
- Turtle with a fishing hook stuck in its flesh

SoWL also assists the law in confiscating wildlife from peddlers, charmers etc. The wild animals trapped by these people are invariably doomed since they are not fed properly and kept in unhygienic conditions. They are thus prone to many infections, and they usually die of the same just weeks after they are procured by these people. Sometimes they are sold to people who have no idea about handling such animals; needless to say, the animals perish. Many buyers are ignorant that the law prohibits anyone from keeping any wild animal.
The Government has given more than necessary facilities to most of these charmer/peddler tribes. Yet they always revert to the same way of life even when they are punished by the law. SoWL would also like to explore ways to provide feasible alternative lifestyles to these people.

If you are fascinated by wildlife and want to play a part in protecting this natural resource, and help people understand and respect it, drop in to the SoWL Shelter at the below address. SoWL is an informal organization, so it is not that you will be allotted work as soon as you sign up. But, if you are really interested in this cause, you will always find interesting things to do there.

SoWL (Wildlife wing of PFA), Next to Abhimaan Studio, Survey # 64, Uttarahalii Road, Kengeri, Bangalore 560060
Ph: 080-28603986, 28604767
Pager: 9624 345569
Cell: 98801 08801
SoWL rescues snakes free of cost from your home. Call the above numbers.
SoWL also rescues trapped/injured birds and animals.
If you see anyone selling wildlife anywhere call SoWL.
--SUJAY