23 February 2007

Karuna Society

On February 19th in Delhi, the Karuna Society recieved the prestigeous annual Venu Menon National Animal Awards as the "Special Organisation Award."

The Karuna Society, founded at Puttaparthi, Andhra Pradesh, recently opened an animal shelter here at Tiruvannamalai. While at Delhi the representatives of the Karuna Society met with people from the Wildlife Trust of india, the Central Zoo and lunch with the Society's Honorary Chairman Mrs. Maneka Gandhi.

One aspect of animal welfare that the Karuna Society has been increasingly involved is the protection, rescue and welfare of animals being cruelly transported on their way to slaughter. This problem also exists in Tiruvannamalai and hopefully now that Karuna Society is involved in Tiruvannamalai, we can begin to address the animal welfare problem we have right here.

Presently, Karuna Society at Puttaparthi, Andhra Pradesh are providing sanctuary for 400 cattle most of them rescued from illegal transport and slaughter. 200 of these are bulls which we have given for caretaking to the local farmers who keep them for work. These animals are still under Court Order and have been given to Karuna Society in custody.

Here are buffaloes being cruelly transported for slaughter.




And these are the same buffaloes, rescued and happily taking a swim in the buffalo pond at Karuna Society, Puttaparthi, Andhra Pradesh.



Happy endings really do happen!

1 comment:

Divyakka said...

Thanks for the mention of the wonderful work they are doing! (Hey I remember taking that pic of the buffaloes bathing!) I hope the website karunasociety.org will be updated soon.

I believe that Tamil Nadu (home of Tiruvannamalai) and Kerala are the only two states in India where cattle slaughter is allowed (though of course it happens all over India anyway), so there is huge trafficking of healthy, strong, young bulls and male buffaloes especially, coming into those states. Much of the meat is export. That is where those 400 cattle were headed when they were resuced.