Other Animal Welfare Organisations

The success of PFA's activities, particularly the Panjim shelter, has enthused citizens all over Goa. Similar efforts are taking place both independently and under PFA auspices in other parts of Goa. What started off as a humble trickle is swelling into a wave and Goa bids fair to become a model state for animal welfare.

Over the past two or three years, considerable progress has been made in a wide range of animal activities. The Forest Department, with the assistance of NGOs, has set up an effective programme for protection of turtles breeding on Goan beaches. The State Animal Welfare Board has been constituted. The Forest Department has seized wild animals kept captive by various persons all over Goa. After suitable rehabilitation, many of these creatures have been released into the wild.

A number of animal welfare organizations now exist in Goa. Some of them deal especially with stray dog control, others with cattle welfare, still others with rehabilitation of wildlife. Apart from these organisations, a number of young individuals have been doing remarkable work in the field of animal welfare, particularly focussing on wildlife issues. To name but a few, Harvey D'Souza, Neil Alvares, Nirmal Kulkarni, Sunil Korajkar and their colleagues rehabilitate rescued wildlife at their homes and release them later in the wild; Paresh Porob has done detailed documentation of Goa's wildlife; Rahul Alvares readily responds at any hour to SOS calls received from people who find an uninvited snake visitor in their homes. This involvement of young people in animal welfare issues is a heartening portent for the future.