The forest department and Maharajbagh Zoo on Wednesday slammed the door on an injured monkey by refusing to accept the animal for treatment.
The Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) health department's mobile van had rescued a monkey around 12 noon on Wednesday from a tree at the backyard of Bhaurao Kedar's house at Baba Farid Nagar, Koradi Road.
The monkey had some fresh and old injuries on its chest and face. Its teeth were also broken. The monkey used to enter into nearby houses for food and had confined itself to a tree near Kedar's house for the past few days. Kedar reported the matter to the corporator of the area, Pushpa Malikar, who asked NMC men to rescue the langur.
Driver of the NMC van Dinesh Tambe and others caught the monkey with the help of a net amid high drama on Wednesday. They also sought help from People for Animals (PFA) president Karishma Galani.
When Galani called up Maharajbagh Zoo incharge Dr S S Bawaskar, he refused to accept the animal. Dr Bawaskar told TOI that the forest department has to take the call first. "The zoo is overcrowded with animals dumped by the department. It has an expert team to treat wild animals. If the department can treat tigers and leopards at Seminary Hills, why a monkey can't be treated there?" he asked.
After the zoo's refusal, Galani called up Seminary Hills range forest officer (RFO) D R Nandanwar to accept the injured monkey. Nandanwar, too, refused saying he had no facilities to treat the monkey. Nandanwar did not respond to the calls made to him.
Monkeys (common langurs) are listed under Schedule II of the Wildlife Protection Act (WPA) 1972 and hence are property of the forest department. "The primary responsibility to take care of monkeys lies with the forest department. The apathy of the officials concerned has left monkeys high and dry," Galani said.
Finally, the injured monkey has been kept in a cage in NMC's health department vehicle. With Wednesday and Thursday being holidays, there is little hope the monkey would get help. However, on the advice of a veterinarian, the monkey was administered some medicines through fruits.
The Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) health department's mobile van had rescued a monkey around 12 noon on Wednesday from a tree at the backyard of Bhaurao Kedar's house at Baba Farid Nagar, Koradi Road.
The monkey had some fresh and old injuries on its chest and face. Its teeth were also broken. The monkey used to enter into nearby houses for food and had confined itself to a tree near Kedar's house for the past few days. Kedar reported the matter to the corporator of the area, Pushpa Malikar, who asked NMC men to rescue the langur.
Driver of the NMC van Dinesh Tambe and others caught the monkey with the help of a net amid high drama on Wednesday. They also sought help from People for Animals (PFA) president Karishma Galani.
When Galani called up Maharajbagh Zoo incharge Dr S S Bawaskar, he refused to accept the animal. Dr Bawaskar told TOI that the forest department has to take the call first. "The zoo is overcrowded with animals dumped by the department. It has an expert team to treat wild animals. If the department can treat tigers and leopards at Seminary Hills, why a monkey can't be treated there?" he asked.
After the zoo's refusal, Galani called up Seminary Hills range forest officer (RFO) D R Nandanwar to accept the injured monkey. Nandanwar, too, refused saying he had no facilities to treat the monkey. Nandanwar did not respond to the calls made to him.
Monkeys (common langurs) are listed under Schedule II of the Wildlife Protection Act (WPA) 1972 and hence are property of the forest department. "The primary responsibility to take care of monkeys lies with the forest department. The apathy of the officials concerned has left monkeys high and dry," Galani said.
Finally, the injured monkey has been kept in a cage in NMC's health department vehicle. With Wednesday and Thursday being holidays, there is little hope the monkey would get help. However, on the advice of a veterinarian, the monkey was administered some medicines through fruits.
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