Animal Care on Wheels

Endangered species-The Star-tortoise:

Beauty may be in the eye of the beholder, but most will agree that the Indian star tortoise is one of the world’s most attractive tortoises.

The Indian star tortoise (Geochelone elegans) is a threatened species of tortoise found in dry areas and scrub forest in India and Sri Lanka.

This species is quite popular in the exotic pet trade, which is the main reason it is endangered.

A week back, we received  one such beautiful baby star-tortoise that was (illegally) under the care  of  a pet-owner.

Luckily the star-tortoise was brought in to our hospital by the pet-owner  to get it treated as its movement had slowed down due to some infection.

We educated the owner that it was illegal to keep a wild endangered animal in their home.

Moreover it is the work of a wildlife expert to understand the nature of the animal and provide it a safe environment to grow.

Our vets started with the treatment  by shifting the baby into an indoor enclosure that was hot and dry.

It was first given few doses of antibiotics as infection had spread to wider areas.

Temperature of the hot-spot was increased to about 5 to 10 degrees. This added heat helped boost it’s immune system and allowed it to better fight infection.

Once it showed improvement we shifted it to an outdoor enclosure. It was then kept well-soaked to rehydrate its body after anti- infection-doses.

A variety of shrubs, grasses or bushes were provided to give it a feeling of protection from foreign elements and a sense of security and also allow it to eat some grasses. Some rolling terrain was recommended by our vets for its movement.

Now the baby star-tortoise is on its own, health, happy and safe in its surrounding .

We will allow it to grow a little bit more to strengthen its muscles so that it can be later on released into the wild in its natural habitat.

Thank you from the bottom of our heart for your generous donations that keeps our spirit high and strengthen our will to serve the suffering animals. 

COMMUNITY SERVICE FOR CO-EXISTENCE

Animals and people have co-existed for thousands of years, with animals playing a vital role in natural ecosystems and communities across the globe.

Despite the strong relationship people have with animals, many animals suffer poor welfare. Over 1,20,000 of suffering animals have been reported in the past decade within our project location.

Our aim is to help build  “a compassionate society where people and animals coexist”.

 We sensitize community members through the various outreach programs, one of which is running our three Mobile vet clinic to reach people and their suffering animals on calls daily.

Ailing animals respond to treatment faster when treatment is given to them without changing their natural habitat. Our three Mobile Clinic Vans give on the spot treatments to ailing un-owned animals in their home ground in Ahmedabad city, India.

These vans are also equipped to perform minor surgeries as well as vaccination against rabies. We believe “improving the welfare of animals living within communities will benefit both people and animals”.

The free and selfless service that we have been providing to our community in the form of treating the animals on-the-spot as per the condition of the patient, conveys this message:

"We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give."

"Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile."

Our Dearest Donors! You have been our greatest support and help since more than a decade. We want this relation to be more strengthened with an added faith in our drive for a beneficial Community service being provided by our selfless and compassionate staff to bring about peace and safety for both animals as well as people co-existing since hundreds of years.

Kindly donate generously with an open mind and soul for creating a beautiful society that will see co-existence of species in its full spirit, beauty and harmony.