Thirst-busters are back; water bowl project to be reintroduced
With temperatures soaring, the Animals Water Bowl Project (AWBP) is being reintroduced for the summer.
A pan-India initiative, the aim of the project is to ensure that stray animals do not suffer because of the unavailability of water.
Lakshman Molleti, the founder of AWBP India, says, “Many animals suffer health challenges such as dehydration, skin infections, fever and viral infections, which lead to their death, due to the unavailability of drinking water. I just want to ensure that every stray animal in the country gets safe drinking water round-the-clock.”
The State Forest Department has also issued instructions to citizens to ensure that animals and birds get enough water. An important instruction being issued by animal-lovers is to avoid using plastic bowls and use bowls fashioned out of biodegradable materials instead. The ABWP provides cement bowls to people wishing to join the project. “We cannot ensure that every street in the nation has a bowl of water for animals during the summer, but by giving away bowls, we can definitely make sure that more people join in the cause and assume responsibility,” says Lakshman Molleti.
Animal-lovers say that they are often overwhelmed by the response they receive in the state.
One such animal-lover, Praveen Nair, says, “Some people are apprehensive at first; but when they keep a bowl out and see animals come to drink from it, they realise the gravity of the situation. Then they keep more bowls out and ask their friends to do so as well. I have seen photos of a snake slithering up to a bowl, drinking, and then leaving.” With most small water bodies and puddles in the city drying up, animals will go thirsty if not for citizens’ intervention, say officials of the Forest Department.
“A major problem arises when animals start drinking out of drainage pipes and other unhealthy sources of water, without knowing the adverse effect that it can have on them. The water can cause stomach problems, which, combined with the heat, can prove to be fatal,” says Praveen.