Protecting animals imperative as super cyclone Amphan makes landfall

Super cyclone Amphan has battered the eastern Indian states of West Bengal and Odisha. As per latest reports, 12 people have been killed in West Bengal due to the super storm.

As the states of West Bengal and Odisha cope with the aftermath of Amphan, it is critical that thousands of mals affected by the cyclone are not forgotten.

The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), which is leading the evacuation, rescue and relief efforts on the ground are also helping mals in the region.

"The response teams of NDRF are on the ground. They are working in cyclone shelters and going to villages in the states to help the people and the mals in the area. The teams are also working to save cattle and livestock and helping on the resettlement of cattle and livestock," said Director General, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), SN Pradhan, while addressing a press briefing on Wednesday (May 20th, 2020).

The rescue of mals, along with humans, during any natural disaster is part of the operations mandate of the NDRF.

World mal Protection conducted numerous trainings of NDRF battalions and after consistent advocacy work, mals were included in the operations mandate of the national body.

It is crucial to save mals during natural disasters. By protecting mals, you are also protecting people, their lives, livelihoods and our country's resources.

In India, mals play an intrinsic role in the lives of the poor and vulnerable communities. Nearly 67 per cent of the poor people own more than 70 per cent of the livestock in the country.

Since 2008, World mal Protection has been working closely with the Government of India to ensure mals are protected in disasters.

As part of these efforts, the orgzation conducted mock drills and simulation exercises with key stakeholders to train them on how to rescue mals during a disaster. Such simulations and mock drills were a first in India.

World mal Protection has also responded directly on the ground following disasters to provide rapid assistance to affected mals and communities.

"Cyclone Amphan is a reminder that mals also suffer during natural disasters. World mal Protection is monitoring the situation and is relieved to see that NDRF teams are also rescuing and caring for mals in their response. Although mals have been integrated into the National Disaster Management Plans and also by a few states, there is still a lot more to do," said Gajender K Sharma, Country Director, World mal Protection India.

"It is the need of the hour that a dedicated national institution or a division at the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) is established which is focused on comprehensively and sustainably addressing the needs of mals during disasters. Currently, there is no such dedicated institute in the country," he added.

PrepVet can help too

World mal Protection has developed an online course called PrepVet or Veterinary Preparation for veterinarians or individuals who are interested to learn ways in managing mals during different stages of disasters.

This online course has a self-enrollment option and it is self-paced for individuals to take the course at their convenient time and can continue anytime from where they have left.

World mal Protection is working closely with Veterinary Emergency Response Units (VERUs), Veterinary Universities, National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM) and state administrative training institutes to promote the course.

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( With inputs from ANI )