As Delhi is faced with an emergency situation due to alarming air pollution levels, not only humans but animals also have borne the brunt. Several cases of animals affected by the toxic pollution are being reported across Delhi’s veterinary hospitals.
“Pets were admitted to the hospital after symptoms of nausea, repeated vomiting and slow response. I treated them and advised owners of the pets to keep them indoors as being exposed for longer period in open air can have serious health implications,” said Satish Yadav, Veterinary Surgeon at Pet Care Hospital.
Dr ManilalValliyate, Director of Veterinary Affairs at PETA said that air pollution affects everyone and is harmful to both human and animals as well. Studies show that animals suffer an increased risk of tumours when exposed to polluted air over an extended period of time.
Particulate matter in the air has been linked to cardiac arrest in dogs and veterinarians sometimes attribute deaths of companion animals due to air pollution.
“Air pollution has been linked to changes in both physiology and behavior in toads and other amphibians. Ozone impairs immune systems in human beings and studies show it affects toads in a similar way. Besides visibility issues during smog, Birds are affected directly by coal power production exhaust, which can damage birds’ respiratory systems. Acid rain falling in rivers and streams causes pH levels to rise, killing fish that are sensitive to pH fluctuations. Acidic rivers and streams can cause respiratory distress in fish,” he added.
Reacting to the recent cases, a Delhi-based veterinarian, said animals are exposed to air pollutants via inhalation of gases or small particles, ingestion of particles suspended in food or water and absorption of gases through skin and situation is worst for street dogs as they exposed to open air continuously for years and with no care.
Surjeet Kumar Sahni, a resident of Nirankari Colony on Monday, noticed that his pet dog was not responding to caution and sleeping frequently. “I took him to veterinary hospital and being treated by the doctor but still not stable,” he said.
“We are worried as earlier only humans who were considered venerable but now we have to take care of our animals too. I have never assumed that I will have to live in such a polluted environment. I have stopped taking my pets outside for even walk,” said Saurabh Srivastava, a resident of Rohini.
Riyaz Khan, Curator of Delhi Zoo does not ruled out possibility of adverse impact of pollution on animals but stated that there is no related casualties in Delhi Zoo as the plantation cover in the Zoo is very dense that act as shelter for the animals.
Raising a serious concern on this issue, Dipti Malhotra Kapoor, Research Associate at PETA said that air pollution is the largest killer in India. It poses a threat to flora and fauna as well. In India, we have around 1,200 species of migratory birds and in Delhi alone. With pollution on a stratospheric rise, we fear losing our birds and animal.
“ Research has shown that air pollution affects animals in urban and peri-urban areas, e.g. in past also animals have been reported to be suffering from respiratory distress, bronchiolitis, heart failure etc due to pollution and smog”, she added.
Wildlife officials said the city has already started feeling the pinch and the Greater Flamingo and Great White Pelican have stopped visiting the sanctuary two years ago due to rise in pollution. He added that Cotton Pygmy Goose too stopped visiting many years ago.
