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RAFor 10000th time: They are Not Your Pets!
This star tortoise was abandoned in a dust bin, where it was attacked by rats and chased by community animals.
An alert citizen reported it to the forest department after which it was referred to us and it was rescued and treated by our team.
The rats had bitten the lower jaw of the reptile due to which it was unable to eat at all.
Dr Rina Dev and her team of vets treated the tortoise. A temporary feeding tube had to be inserted clinically so that the reptile can be fed food and medications from time to time.
It's been more than a week and the star tortoise is responding to the treatment.
It is currently kept under observation at our foster care with regular checkups and follows ups.
Even though the Indian Star Tortoises are protected under the Wildlife Protection Act 1972, they continue to remain one of the most trafficked wildlife.
Sadly, when people realise that they are not meant to be 'pets' they often end up abandoning them on streets, temples, dustbins or sometimes near water bodies in cities.
Such reptiles cannot navigate in cities and often end up getting injured after being attacked by other animals or dying in accidents.
We would like to request to anyone who is keeping such species illegally to hand them over to the forest department instead of abandoning them.
If it is with a known person like a family member, relative or friend then politely discourage their act of keeping such species as pets by showing such case studies.
If you encounter an unknown person keeping it illegally then report it to the forest department and lodge an e-complaint.
Please do not use any kind of physical or verbal abuse while doing so as it may discourage people to come forward and hand over and may even put the reptile's life at risk.
Always seek the assistance of the forest officer of your area or local NGOs to handle the situation.
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