VISAKHAPATNAM: The recent furore over hundreds of male calves donated to the Simhachalam temple that were left uncared for and dying at the temple goshala has not woken up temple authorities in the region to the issue of animal cruelty, or so it seems. While corrective measures were taken up at Simhachalam to ensure proper care of the calves, other animals such as the endangered star tortoise that are routinely offered to various small temples are still facing the threat of landing up at slaughterhouses or being exported for their meat.
The star tortoise (Geochelone elegans) is offered at various temples in and around the city by many devotees as the animal is considered as an incarnation of Lord Vishnu in 'Kurma avataram'.
The tortoise, which is listed in the Schedule 1 (endangered species), is a herbivorous land animal and usually found in grasslands, dry scrub forests and rocky patches, according to zoologists. It is vulnerable to diseases. As many as 100 star tortoises were rescued from various temples in recent times, according to members of animal welfare organizations.
"These endangered land tortoises are not only donated to temples, but are also illegally exported to other countries. Poaching is rampant especially in Machilipatnam in Krishna district and the tortoises are shipped to other countries for their meat. Local people do not usually eat the meat as tortoise is considered an incarnation of Lord Vishnu," alleged Professor K Sujatha, chairperson of the board of studies, department of marine living resources, Andhra University.
"The animals are usually donated to small temples in and around Vizag and also at Sri Kurmam temple in Srikakulam, an ancient temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu," said Pradeep Nath, founder-president of the Visakha Society for Protection and Care of Animals (VSPCA).
"The tortoises feed on coconut and bananas available on the temple premises, though this food is unsuitable for them. They are kept in an environment that does not resemble their natural habitat of grasslands or dry scrub forests or rocky hills. There are several such donated tortoises in the temples of Srikakulam and are also found in small Vizag temples as well," said Nath.
"We are writing to the government to stop the torture of these endangered species in the name of donation to temples. We are going to put up posters in temples to make the public aware of the issue. More than 90 tortoises were rescued in the last few months by VSPCA from temples and other areas where they have strayed and have been sent back to their natural habitat or given to the zoo. However, several more remain to be rescued. We are trying to seize them whenever we come across such donations. Some of the tortoises rescued were found with their shells cracked and other injuries," asserted Nath.
Zoo curator G Ramalingam agreed that the endangered star tortoises are donated to the temples or at times exported for their meat. "Animal welfare organisations such as VSPCA had handed over some of these species to us a few times. Whenever we come across such rescued animals, we keep them in quarantine for sometime in the zoo and then release them in the wild, in the hilly regions and forests," said Ramalingam.
