ANIMALS AND DISASTER RISK REDUCTION
Disasters kill and injure millions of animals across the globe each year. The destruction of land and natural habitats affects the food chain because many species are unable to hunt. Disasters affect wild animals, domesticated animals, animals in captivity and zoo alike. While the wild animals are neglected because they face the apathy on ‘out of sight out of mind’ bent of mind, other animals are not attended to because the priorities are set for saving human lives during disasters. Domesticated animals are left on their own and mostly the domesticated animals and captivated animals in zoo succumb to disasters due to their confined captivity with no safe places to go. Plight of stray animals is the worst as they are wooed away, deprived of available facilities and sometimes killed to avoid future burden and spread of diseases. The neglect and apathy they face during crisis times is a global worry now. Humans and then their properties are priority during disaster response, rescue and rehabilitation. Animals are not part of any disaster management plan on a serious and equity note.
Further, the lower strata of community worldwide depend hugely on animals for food, livelihood, to stay healthy, as companions, for status, and for personal safety. Thus we can see that lives of animals and people are fundamentally linked and any severe impact on the lives of animals socio-economically disturbs the day-to-day life-fabric of such societies. It has been seen that by saving animals, families depending on them can be made self-sufficient and ready for future crisis. In the absence of animals, they become economically weak and are often left with no way to rebuild their lives.
Animals play a very important role in the human life. From the early days, animals have been used for companionship, transportation means, for food, farming, hunting and protection. Animals like dogs can also be used to guide the physically challenged like the blind and also the old. Research laboratories use animals to test drugs before giving them to humans. Research involving laboratory animals is necessary to ensure and enhance human and animal health and protection of the environment. Animals have helped in the exploration of the world and other risky surveys and research. It is the duty of humans to protect animals since man cannot do without them.
EXISTING POLICIES
“It shall be the duty of every citizen of India [...] (g) to protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers and wild life, and to have compassion for living creatures…” - Constitution of India Section 51 A.
The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act of 1960, consolidated in 1982, and The Wildlife Protection Act of 1972.
Different Indian states have their own state Acts that are applicable within each state’s jurisdiction. For example Bihar has come up with “Management of Animals during Emergencies” handbook.
Under the DM Act, 2005, apart from National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) each State has its own State Disaster Management Authority to deal with disasters. NDMA has issued several disaster specific guidelines for managing extreme weather-related disasters such as cyclones, floods and heat wave. But there is no specific guideline on Animal protection during disasters.
National Disaster Management Plan (NDMP) has been formulated to assist all stakeholders including State Governments in disaster risk management of various hazards including hazards related to climate change. But Animals do not find suitable place in the document.
The national policy on disaster management has a dedicated section on animal care in chapter 7: Response. It mentions as follows: “Animals both domestic and wild are exposed to the effects of natural and man-made disasters. It is necessary to devise appropriate measures to protect animals and find means to shelter and feed them during disasters and their aftermath, through a community effort, to the extent possible.”
The National Cyclone Risk Mitigation Project (NRCMP) is under implementation in eight coastal states to mitigate the sufferings of the coastal community. Cyclone shelters and early warning system created under this project proved to be of great help during cyclones ‘Phailin’ in 2013, ‘Hud-Hud’ in 2014, ‘Titli’ in 2018 and cyclone ‘Fani’ in 2019.
Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying & Fisheries released a national disaster management plan for animals. Under the plan, rescue and relief of animals will now be an integral part of disaster operations in the country. The plan for the first time ensures that animals will be included in disaster preparations, potentially saving millions of animals’ lives and building the resilience of the communities that depend on them.
Pre-disaster preparedness of this plan includes detailed action plan relating to dissemination of early warning, identification of vulnerability amongst livestock, animal vaccination, feed and fodder supply and capacity building of different stake-holders in disaster management etc.
Disaster response component of this plan includes strategy/action plan relating to effective and prompt response, rescue of livestock, feed & fodder supply, measures against epidemics and diseases and maintenance of Sanitation etc.
Post disaster component of this plan includes strategy for treatment of sick animals, disease surveillance, disposal of carcass, restoration and restocking of livestock population.
NEED FOR ANIMAL INCLUSIVE DISASTER RISK REDUCTION
Humans and animals need each other for a sustainable co-existent development. All Disaster Risk Reduction frameworks should invariably include animals as priorities as humans on equity basis. Any degradation of food chain and ecological balance will harm our own existence in the long run. Moreover, the economical deprived community needs animals for their economical sustenance. The following essential measures need to be implemented in this regard:
Bringing awareness and training people to care for animals during and after disasters;
Developing community emergency plans that include animals;
Setting up early warning systems so that animals alongside human population are evacuated in time;
Facilitating people store and protect food, water and medicine (first aid kit) for themselves as well as animals;
Educating about how to safely evacuate animals during crisis time and doing regular mock drills;
Building, strengthening and securing animal shelters;.
Building adequate veterinary infrastructure and running vaccination programs;/p>
