COVID-19 Lockdown: Monkeys At Khandagiri-Udayagiri Starve, Appeals Pour In To Feed The Strays

Bhubaneswar: The coronavirus outbreak saw people abandoning their pet animals for fear for contracting the infection. Now, stray animals might end up becoming an unforeseen casualty of the country-wide lockdown.

The monkeys at Khandagiri-Udayagiri caves in Odisha capital are reportedly starving since the government imposed a ban on entry of tourists to such places to prevent mass gathering of people. The tourists and people visiting the site used to feed them and they have got used to this lifestyle.

Similar is the fate of dogs and cats on the streets. Animal lovers have now appealed to people to feed as many stray animals as possible and help them survive.

“Please make two extra chapaatis/rotis daily in your home for street dogs/Cows and other stray animals who will have no means of feeding themselves since all the Restaurants/Dhabas/Food Carts are closed now due to coronavirus lockdown. Most of the stray animals survive on leftover food provided by hotel/dhaba staff. These animals will starve to death in case of a prolonged lockdown. You can handover these breads to your society/ Apartment staff to be kept outside for animals. Spread the message to all the people in your circle.”

Former Women and Child Minister Maneka Gandhi has also made a similar appeal to people. “Street dogs, cows, and birds can neither get nor give coronavirus to humans. In the event of a lockdown, if they are not fed, many will die, creating another kind of a problem,” she said.