Animal Welfare

Man behind PM Modi's Project Cheetah, Vincent Van Der Merwe, found dead

Vincent Van Der Merwe (42) was a 'cheetah expert' from South Africa. He was found dead in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Vincent was the expert who advised the Indian government on 'Project Cheetah'

Zoo breeding programmes face poor management, funding woes, says govt panel

While India's zoos have made "notable" progress in breeding endangered species under conservation programmes that started around a decade ago, a government panel says that persistent gaps in execution, funding and species management hinder their overall success. The Central Zoo Authority (CZA), which is responsible for overseeing and guiding national-level ex situ conservation efforts, constituted a committee in 2023 to review and evaluate the state of conservation breeding programmes in zoos across the country. In 2007, the CZA selected 74 species for breeding in 43 zoos. By 2014, 26 high-priority species were shortlisted and breeding programmes began for 23. According to the report of the committee submitted to the CZA recently, while India's zoos have made "notable progress in housing and breeding several endangered species, the overall effectiveness of conservation breeding programmes is hindered by persistent foundational and operational challenges". "Addressing these issues w

AI, QR enabled pendants launched to enhance cow safety, well-being

A city-based foundation has come up with an artificial intelligence-enabled pendant embedded with a QR code for cows to ensure their well-being and safety. The "Gau Raksha Kavach" pendant will remind one of the vaccination date of the cow through an email or SMS. When scanned, the code will show the medical history of the cow on the spot. The pendant has a reflective collar which will save stray cows from road accidents. This initiative was launched by the Ridlan AI Foundation on Wednesday. BJP leader and former MP Poonam Mahajan launched the pendants on Wednesday. This is a very brilliant idea of AI-complied pendants for cows from the old culture of India. I am blessed to connect with leaders of India who think about giving back to the society, giving voice to the voiceless," Mahajan said remembering former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee on his birth centenary. "I have been working for animals, and with Akshay, founder of the Ridlan AI Foundation, we have done this unique program in th

World Animal Day 2024: History, significance, theme, quotes and more

World Animal Day is observed every year on October 4 to highlight the importance of animals and spread awareness for their welfare to maintain ecological balance

Ratan Tata urges Mumbai people in post to donate blood for stray puppy

Ratan Tata, Chairman of the Tata Group, shared a post of an ailing stray dog and the eligibility criteria for donor dogs, stressing on the urgent need for a blood donor

Jains pose as Muslims in Delhi, buy 124 goats to deter sacrifice on Bakrid

Members of the Jain community disguised themselves as Muslims and visited markets of old Delhi a day before the festival of Bakrid to buy dozens of goats to 'save' them

German Shepherd attacks 6-year-old girl in Ghaziabad society, video viral

A German Shepherd went after a six-year-old girl while she was riding her bike in a residential complex in Ghaziabad. A CCTV camera recorded the attack at the Ajnara Integrity Housing Society

Royal diet for elephants at Anant Ambani's Vantara, have a look at the menu

Royal diet for elephants at the Radhe Krishna Temple Elephant Welfare Trust (RKTEWT). They get to eat Khichdi, roti, pallets, etc. Vantara shared their daily diet chart here

Centre prohibits foreign dog breeds commonly used for illegal fighting

The import of such dog breeds is also recommended to be prohibited by the expert committee formed under the chairmanship of the commissioner of Animal Husbandry

16K sheep, cattle stuck on board export ship after Red Sea turn-back

The animals have been on the vessel since January 5 Government and industry officials say they are in good health but animal welfare advocates have branded their plight torture

World Animal Welfare Day 2023: History, theme, importance, quotes, facts

World Animal Day is about promoting the rights, needs and welfare of the animals. The objective is to give the appreciation to even the most overlooked creatures

Rajasthan elections: CM approves retirement benefits for part-time workers

Rajasthan's animal welfare board has been named "Amrita Devi State Animal Welfare Board", after Amrita Devi Bishnoi, during a state cabinet meeting

India to get $25 million grant for strengthening animal health system

India is among the very few countries which has got funding for safeguarding animal health

India to get $25 mn from G20 Pandemic Fund to support animal health system

India will receive USD 25 million from the G20 Pandemic Fund for strengthening animal health system of the country. The fund that was established under Indonesia's G20 Presidency is targeted at low-to middle-income countries to finance efforts like surveillance, research, and better access to vaccines, among others measures. According to the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, the G20 Pandemic Fund has approved India's USD 25-million proposal for strengthening animal health security in the country for pandemic preparedness and response. The major interventions to be taken under the proposal include: strengthening and integrating disease surveillance and early warning system; upgrading and expanding the laboratory network; improving the inter-operable data systems and building capacity for data analytics for risk analysis and risk communication, the ministry said in a statement. The other interventions include strengthening health security for transboundary animal

International Tiger Day to be observed on July 29, check interesting facts

International Tiger Day is observed every year on July 29. There are only 3167 tigers left in India and the shocking fact is that this number is 75 per cent of the global tiger population

Delhi government forms Animal Welfare Board to prevent cruelty against them

Delhi's Development Minister Gopal Rai on Wednesday constituted the Delhi Animal Welfare Board to prevent cruelty to animals in the national capital, an official statement said. The announcement was made after the minister chaired a high-level review meeting with the officials of the Animal Husbandry Department at the Delhi Secretariat. Orders have also been issued to speed up the construction work of Delhi's first veterinary college which would be built on 56 acres in Satbari here, the statement said. Rai said that a total of 27 members under 19 categories have been included in the Animal Welfare Board. He said the board will work for the prevention of cruelty to animals and will take care of them in Delhi. Besides, financial and technical assistance will also be provided by the board to the organisations involved in animal welfare works in the 11 districts of Delhi. For this, the board will continue to work as a governing body. The development comes in the backdrop of reports ..

PETA demands rehabilitation of elephants used for rides at Amber Fort

Animal welfare group PETA has requested state authorities to send two ailing elephants used for tourist rides at the iconic Amber Fort here for rehabilitation, the organisation said on Wednesday. The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has submitted a plea to Rajasthan Chief Secretary Usha Sharma, demanding that the elephants named 'Gouri' and 'Malti' be sent to a rehabilitation centre on grounds of mental illness. Amber resident and shopkeeper Roopnarayan Koolwlal, who was attacked by Gouri, was also present in PETA's meeting held with the chief secretary and forest department officials on Tuesday. "These two elephants have attacked either humans or elephants due to frustration over being used for rides," Khushboo Gupta, director of Advocacy Projects, PETA India said. Gupta added that Malti was used for tourist rides at the Amber Fort despite having a history of running amok repeatedly and fighting with another elephant. "Tourists from all over the world are ...

Animal Welfare Board withdraws appeal to celebrate Feb 14 as 'Cow Hug Day'

Appeal on website earlier this week generated comments on social media

Animal Welfare Board withdraws appeal to celebrate Feb 14 as 'Cow Hug Day'

Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) on Friday said it has withdrawn the appeal to celebrate February 14 as 'Cow Hug Day' following directions from the government. February 14 is observed as Valentine's Day across the world. "As directed by the competent authority and Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, the appeal issued by the Animal Welfare Board of India for celebration of Cow Hug Day on 14th February, 2022 stands withdrawn," the board's Secretary S K Dutta said in a notice. It was for the first time that the AWBI had appealed to cow lovers in the country to celebrate 'Cow Hug Day'.

Valentine date: Mark Feb 14 as 'Cow Hugging Day', says Animal Welfare Board

Hugging animal will bring emotional richness and increase happiness, it says