Pudhucherry aims to become pally with birds, animals

Chennai: Concerned over the depleting sparrow and squirrel population, the  Pudhucherry government has decided to increase the habitat space for small birds. As a pilot project, the Union Territory has started installing artificial wooden nests on trees at Bharathi Park opposite the state Assembly. The project was kick started by the local administration minister N.G. Panneerselvam and will now be extended to eight more parks, said Pudhucherry municipal veterinary medical officer Dr K. Coumarane.

The municipality had also identified 60 fruit bearing trees to be planted in open areas and in a phased manner the municipality would also encourage transplantation of big trees to prevent them from being axed during developmental projects, he said.The old Pondicherry city was very artistic with well-designed colonial and traditional buildings fitted with wooden windows, street verandas and leaning roofs and such constructions served as an ideal habitat for mynas, munias, squirrels and sparrows.

The old houses also had long portraits that served as an ambush for sparrows, but now with high-rise constructions replacing old buildings, the living space for small terrestrial birds has drastically reduced, Dr Coumarane said. Pudhucherry municipal commissioner R. Chandrasekharan has instructed municipal officials to chalk out plans that will make the Union Territory more animal friendly.

Two new designs of wooden nests are now manufactured by the trained municipal staff and a sensitisation programme for the municipal staff on animal welfare is also in the pipeline, municipal sources said.

Welcoming the move, animal welfare officer F. M. Jerold of Animal Welfare Board of India said that though there is no census on small birds, their sightings have reduced in Puducherry like, any city. The animal husbandry department and municipality had chalked out over several new initiatives and are also periodically roping in NGOs working on animal welfare and its a humane approach.