Wildlife & City: PfA has rescued 61 slender loris in Bengaluru, says Maneka Gandhi

BENGALURU: BJP MP and animal rights activist Maneka Gandhi on Saturday urged the State Government to drop its efforts at capturing monkeys in Benglauru and relocating them calling it waste of money.

Such efforts will result in only wasteful expenditure as monkeys come back to the same place, she said speaking on ‘Living With The Wild’, an event organised by the People for Animals (PfA) Wildlife Hospital and Rescue Centre.

The former Union Minister highlighted the need for the conservation of urban wild animals, the health of a fast-growing city, and the role of its citizens. The nonprofit runs its wildlife hospital near the BGS education and health city area, off Uttarahalli road near Kengeri. “Did you know this Wildlife Hospital alone has rescued 61 slender loris?. Every city needs a wildlife rescue centre and India’s glory is that we still have wildlife. Every single animal brings to us life, we don’t give it life. If you remove them, you will lose all your trees, you will lose all your flowers and you will lose your biodiversity,” Gandhi, who grew up in Bengaluru, said.

Alpana Bhartia, founder trustee at People for Animals said, “I believe this event is the beginning of good engagement with the Corporate world of Bangalore. We need to focus on the wider viewpoint of what is Bangalore’s wildlife and why we all need to work together and support each other’s efforts and collaborate in a way only Bangalore can.”