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https://theconversation.com/indias-60-million-street-dogs-are-turning-from-village-scavengers-to-city-territory-defenders-272751>
"Growing up in rural India, my grandmother would feed the village dog half a
chapati and a bowl of milk each afternoon, surely insufficient for its needs.
The dog survived by scavenging from nearby homes. Years later, living in Delhi,
I encountered street dogs refusing biscuits, overfed by households competing to
care for them.
India’s unique mix of religious and cultural values creates a deep tolerance
for non-humans and wildlife among rich and poor alike, often rooted in
millennia of coexistence. People consciously endure significant risks to
coexist with animals. However, this dynamic is shifting as cities grow and
their dogs become more territorial in crowded and more littered shared spaces.
India has at least 60 million free-ranging dogs, an estimate more than a decade
old. More recent surveys found about 1 million in Delhi alone. Relatedly, India
also accounts for more than a third of global rabies deaths.
Unlike most western countries, Indian culture and laws forbid culling. Dogs
must instead be caught, sterilised, vaccinated and – crucially – returned to
their exact territory. In practice, these mandates are frequently ignored."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
