The Hindu : New Delhi News : Pilgrimage with a difference

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Apr 25, 2005

New Delhi

New Delhi

Pilgrimage with a difference

Bindu Shajan Perappadan

Trekking to set up camp to treat animals carrying pilgrims

NEW DELHI: : When the faithfuls pack their bags to make a pilgrimage to holy Kedarnath this year, a small group here in the Capital would be packing equipments and medicines to undertake a pilgrimage with a difference.

This small group - part of Brooke International working to relieve the suffering of horses, donkeys and mules across the world - would be trekking to set up camp to treat and care for animals carrying pilgrims to their `holy destination'. Come peak pilgrim season and this group consisting of two vets, a dresser and a community facilitator will set up camp to treat and help out animals in distress free of cost.

This year, however, when the pilgrim season begins, the group would have an additional site to cater to at Hemkund Sahib in Uttaranchal. Making their way through the treacherous pilgrim routes of Kedranath and Hemkund, the team would be setting up camp twice a year for 5 to 15 days each, treating the injured and advocating better treatment of animals."What we are dealing with here are animals working at a height of 1,900 feet above sea level, carrying an average weight of over 60 kg for an uphill distance of 14 km each day. Animals are afflicted with wounds, have respiratory problems, are stressed and have painful stomach ailments. Some of them are even lame. We also find plastic bags inside these animals, which is worrying. And though there are local vets, they are often not very approachable and are also expensive. People often also use local remedies and the help available for these animals there is not good enough,'' explained the vet of the Brooke Hospital for Animals (India), Mini Aravindan, who is part of the group that would undertake the pilgrimage. The team on an average treats 1,500 animals at one station and also teach owners of good welfare practices to keep their animals healthy. But their job becomes very hectic once we set up camp. "We have to do a lot of advocacy also to educate the owners,'' explained Dr. Aravindan.

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