For the last 30 years, Gurunath Narvekar hasn’t taken a break. After all, he has his “children” — the animals and birds of the Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Udyan in Mumbai — to take care of. Right from tending and feeding them to dressing their wounds in case of any injury were his daily routine.
“They are like my children. During the lockdown period, I did not go home but stayed in the Zoo itself to ensure that these innocent animals do not have to starve in case there is no one around,” Narvekar told The Pioneer on phone. Set to retire in a couple of months, Narvekar said he will badly miss his “children”.
To recognise his uninterrupted service, Union Environment Minister Prakash Javedekar on October 5 conferred him with the Prani-Mitra Award 2020 during a virtual event.
Narvekar is among the four zoo warriors, the three others being Atul Gupta from Van Vihar National Park in Bhopal, Sudha Raman, (IFS) Director of a Chennai Zoo and Rajesh Mahapatra, biologist in a zoo in Odisha, who have been conferred with the prestigious award for their dedication towards ensuring the well-being of the captive animals under their care.
The award has been instituted by the Central Zoo Authority (CZA) this year to encourage zoo officers and staff engaged in captive animal management.
Another awardee, Sudha Ramen (IFS), Director of Arignar Anna Zoological Park, Chennai, Tamil Nadu said that even though October 4 is recognised as the World Animal Day and International Zoo Keepers Day, in her opinion, animals should be valued and respected on all days.
“Animal keepers do that round the year with no breaks. Having worked with them, I know their love and care,” she said adding that zoos have rendered major contribution as ex-situ conservation centres.
Veterinarian Dr. Atul Gupta (48) felt that for better wildlife health, besides focus on capacity building of the staff, there is a need to have a veterinarian cadre in the forest department. “Presently, veterinarians from Animal Husbandry are deputed in the Zoo. But one must understand that domestic and wild animals have different energy levels and hence, need to be handled by the one who has such expertise,” he said.
Mohapatra, who received the award in the Biologist/Educationist category, is associated with the releasing of seven gharials in Mahanadi for the revival of the species in their natural habitat as well as introducing puzzle feeding to the animals in the zoo to encourage mental stimulation in them and reduce boredom.