|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
| Tuesday, 18 January 2005 |
 |
|
 |
News | |
| News Business Features Editorial Security Politics World Letters Sports Obituaries
|
by Chamikara Weerasinghe It appears that animals have sensed the danger of tsunami ahead of its destructive onslaught and moved to elevated plains and survived. "However when they return they could hardly find their masters or their coastal homes. Even wildlife was saved in the Yala National Park in the disaster," Bob Blumberg said. Bob coordinates a rabies vaccination program aimed at preventing a possible outbreak of rabies in a post-tsunami scenario. He was in the island when it was devoured by killer waves in December 26. International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), Humane Society International (HSI), Noah's Wish and World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA), have pledged funds for his program in a joint effort to help people and animals affected by the disaster. Bob and official teams from IFAW, HSI, Noah's Wish, and WSPA have conducted a number of veterinary camps at tsunami relief centres in the South , Killinochchi and Mullaitivu. "We have vaccinated more than 4,000 dogs and cats against rabies for the last two and half weeks. We have treated them for other communicable diseases such as mange." Bob said. "The people's response was amazing. They turned up in large numbers at the camps with their pets despite their own plight. Even stray dogs had been attended to," he said. "It was very hard to determine the number of dogs, cats, poultry or cattle which had been destroyed in the tsunami. Most animals have survived except those who had been tied up or kept locked inside cages or houses." "However, those animals with freedom to move about had managed to save their lives by means of a sixth sense," he explained. Sharing their experiences at the camps he said, " We saw some children who have lost their parents whose houses have been reduced to slabs finding comfort in recognizing their dogs." "These dogs stood by them giving them a feeling of security to them. All these factors help in the healing process," he noted. "We work with a team of 14 Vets in our vaccination and sterilisation programs. We work closely with the Government Health Services and Vet faculty students of Peradeniya University whose help have been invaluable in our efforts,"he said. "We are also assisted by local big time companies who provided us with truck loads of meat food to be distributed among those animals displaced in tsunami relief centres," he said. There are many dogs in these camps who were found to be vomiting and having ear and skin diseases. They are not signs of rabies. They vomit mostly because they have drunk salt water after being caught in the sea waves. "There is no need to panic, but it is important we take precautions." he said and added that he would expect the Health Ministry's Education Unit's intervention in this connection to educate the public. The Noah's Wish Director Terry Crist and American Human Association Director Richard Green were present yesterday at a press conference organised by the coalition of HSI, IFAW, WSPA and Noah's Association where they declared financial support for the continuation of the rabies vaccination program in keeping with their program to aid people and animals affected by the tsunami. Those who wish to learn more about the current programme can contact HSI on www.hsihsus.org, IFAW: www.ifaw.org, WSPA: www.wspa.org.uk. |
|
News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security
Produced by Lake House |
