Kolkata: City pet lovers have raised their voices against the authorities of Banabitan Biodiversity Park, popularly known as Salt Lake Central Park, for neglecting stray dogs living inside the park, many of whom have been left to starve. There are many strays inside Banabitan and the park management has recently prohibited outsiders from feeding them. Since Monday, two dogs have died and two have gone missing. On Sunday afternoon, animal lovers staged a protest in the park demanding they be allowed to feed the animals.
“There are about 35 stray dogs inside Central Park, which are in very bad health due to lack of food,” said Anirban Mitra, a dog-feeder and local businessman who lives in FD Block. Mitra used to feed about seven dogs residing inside the park for the last two years. Due to a leg fracture, he was unable to feed the animals for six weeks from Jan 22. On March 4, when he resumed feeding, Mitra faced severe resistance from the park authority.
“I found almost all the dogs suffering from malnutrition due to my absence as they used to have to make do with biscuits that a few morning walkers would give them,” said Mitra, who hospitalized a dog on Thursday.
In Sept 2022, the park management put up notices to ban feeding of strays inside the park. But from last Aug, there has been stringent imposition of the rule. “We received complaints about these stray dogs from some morning walkers for the last few months, resulting in force to maintain order in recent times,” said a park official in charge of Banabitan.
A morning walker who does not want to disclose his identity said, “In recent times, I have had to enter the park with a stick to protect myself from strays after a dog bit one of my friends.”
“In the last eight months, about 13 dogs died and two passed away last week,” said Sohini Adhikari, an advocate and a pet lover living in FD Block. On Thursday, she submitted a detailed complaint and intimation letter regarding the issue addressed to the principal chief conservator of forests at Aranya Bhawan.
“Sunday’s protest was a start. We will go further if the issue doesn’t get resolved soon,” said Subarno Goswami, an animal activist and vlogger.
Later on Sunday, the protesters met the park’s beat officer who said the authorities are looking into the issue.