UoH lays traps to catch stray dogs, ends up ensnaring hapless wild animals instead

It’s ironic. The cage traps meant to capture stray dogs that are allegedly a ‘threat’ to wildlife on

University of Hyderabad

campus, have turned into death traps for the very animals that the varsity authorities claim they are trying to protect. Animal rights activists on campus rue the fact that wild boars, hare, mongoose, monitor lizards, pangolins, several species of snakes, including cobras, and even wildcats, have been ensnared, in the recent past. “Flouting wildlife norms blatantly and paying no heed to environmental protection laws, University of Hyderabad has been laying deadly traps for animals that roam freely on the sprawling campus, frequently causing death or severe injuries to endangered animals and reptiles,” bemoans

Ravi Jillapalli

, research student and founder of Wild Lens, an eco group comprising of

UoH

students.
Trapped animals die due to starvation or injuries sustained while trying to escape from captivity: Students
The animals are lured into the eight 5x3 ft traps laid across the campus using chicken legs as bait, say students. As most of these cages are laid in remote parts of the campus, it’s difficult for the activists to rescue animals. “Once caught, the animals often die due to negligence, starvation or injuries sustained while desperately trying to escape from captivity. A wild boar piglet which was caught recently suffered serious injuries before the matter came to our attention,” says Sai Keerthana. Stating that such incidents have been happening unchecked for the past one-and-a-half years, Keerthana adds, “It’s illegal to trap animals! I have seen dead rabbits and a dead cobra in traps laid at Mushroom rock a few months back. This time, the

Forest Department

officials can’t simply ignore the fact saying that it’s an issue affecting UoH alone. This is a serious issue affecting the
entire-ecosystem and it should be taken up by the higher authorities.”
GHMC and Forest Dept gave approval to set up traps to catch stray dogs: UoH Chief Security Officer
When contacted, UoH chief security officer, TV Rao said the traps are meant for stray dogs only, but sometimes, wild animals also get caught and they are soon released back. “We started laying traps to catch stray dogs as they proved to be dangerous to the wild animals. Currently, eight traps exist in UoH. We managed to catch 34 dogs in last one year and we keep on changing the locations and release the dogs later for relocation. We have a dedicated team of eight guards who work round the clock and they release the wild animals once such incidents come to our notice,” said Rao, adding that traps were laid after getting approval from Forest Department and GHMC.

Laying traps for stray dogs is also in contravention to the law: Students
Citing the recent Supreme Court verdict issued in January 2017, after hearing a batch of petitions on issues relating to orders passed by various civic bodies on culling of stray dogs, Ravi contends that it is illegal to capture dogs. “First of all it’s illegal to put such cages in campus, whatever be the intention. Wild life laws make it very clear that animals can be captured only if they pose danger to humans. Only a registered veterinarian is authorised to catch dogs for sterilisation purposes, that too using nets prescribed by norms of the

Animal Birth Control

programme. The university guards have no expertise or skill to catch animals and they lack coordination,” he claims, adding that once, a wild boar bitten by dogs died after not being provided a vehicle by officials to take it to veterinary hospital nearby.
Blaming the university and Forest Department equally for destroying the wild life of the campus, Ravi further added that in last three years, 88 poachers were caught and handed over to the Forest Department by Wild Lens. “Not a single one was punished; no records on their activities exist with department officials. The university officials repeatedly say that their priority is to protect the property and people; they are least bothered about conserving wildlife and often help the poachers. The university staff and poachers operate hand in glove covertly,” alleges Ravi.