Workshop to refine wild instincts

While the government remains nonchalant to the pathetic conditions of the zoos and its inmates, an added cause for concern is the attitude of visitors. Specific instructions, requesting visitors to refrain from feeding or teasing the animals and birds, are being blatantly violated. Victimised by their apathy are the inoffensive members of the wildlife sheltered here.

Aiming to create a greater awareness among the citizens about the inmates of the zoo and inculcating in them a more sensitive approach, the Vadodara Centre for Animal Rescue and Emergency (VCARE) organised, the first of its kind, a zoo training workshop for school children in the city on Wednesday.

“As children take to animals more easily than adults, we decided to involve only children in the workshop. Also, the earlier they learn to love animals and treat them kindly, the greater will be their sense of responsibility towards welfare of animals,” said VCARE Administrator Annapoorna Ravichander, while giving details about the aim and objectives of the workshop.

Students between the ages of five to 13 years participated in the workshop to be held at the Kamatibaug Zoo premises till May 9. Equipped with a paper-bag containing a diary, pencil, some information on wildlife and a flip book sponsored by Coca-Cola, each `Zoo Patroller’ (as the label on the bag read) was all set for his/her mission.

On the first day, they toured the animals section of the zoo, observing them keenly and asking the zoo-keepers about the food habits and peculiar traits of the animals. Making notes of the details for future reference, the children later shared the information with their project co-ordinators.

The enthusiasm and the knowledge these little `Patrollers’ could not be definitely overlooked. For instance, standing before a cage, the children were asked to identify whether the animal inside was a leopard or a cheetah.

“It is a leopard. It cannot be a cheetah as they are extinct,” echoed the students. The day’s work ended with a song and story session on animals.The `Patrollers’ will also be taught about various zoo duties, starting from cleaning of cages to feeding the animals and keeping a check over the behaviour of people visiting the zoo, said Ravichander.

“They will stand on guard outside each cage and restrain those disturbing the animals and violating zoo norms. Even after the workshop is over, older children can offer their services to the zoo on a weekly basis,” she added.