The glue traps — barbaric device to catch and kill rodents in the households —continue to flood the markets despite ban imposed on its sale by the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) under Environment Ministry.
“The use of glue traps is in violation of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act,” pointed out Major General RM Kharb, Chairman of AWBI.
Glue traps, also known as glue boards, are made by coating natural or synthetic adhesive on cardboard, plastic trays or similar material. The rodents get caught in the trap by their feet or fur. They are then thrown away to die a horrible death while still stuck to the trap.
This glue is so powerful that once caught, the animal cannot free itself, and even if it manages, a part of its skin will shear off. Usually, the trapped animal dies of dehydration, suffocation or starvation over a period that may prolong to two days. Some even end up chewing off their own body parts attached to the glue in order to escape. The Federation of Indian Animal Protection Organisations (FIAPO), in collaboration with UK charity ACT Asia for Animals, had filed PIl against the use of glue traps.
In response to this, the AWBI Chairman had issued an advisory against the use of such glue traps.
“It is also risky for the person who carries the trapped animal,” pointed out Kharb. The latter’s droppings exposes him to Hantavirus, a fatal respiratory disease. It may be passed on to the person through rodent droppings and urine from the sticky surface,” he said.
In his advisory, Kharb had asked the Chief Secretaries of State Governments and the Director General of Foreign Trade to prohibit sale, manufacture, use and import of glue traps. However, despite this, rats continue to die a painful death.
“Our campaign is now under way to get the sale, manufacture and import of glue traps banned as well to get a total ban on these inhumane traps,” said Arpan Sharma, Convenor, FIAPO.
“The members had brought this to our notice a long time ago, but because it is about rodents, we were not taken seriously,” he added.
However, now that there is a policy directive it is very important to actually enforce the ban, he added. Those selling, manufacturing, importing and using glue traps must be prosecuted under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act,” Sharma pointed out.
According to experts, if such an animal is seen suffering on a glue trap, efforts may be made to release the animal by pouring a small amount of cooking or baby oil onto the parts of the animal that are stuck. One can, then, gently try to get the animal free. Care must be taken, not to get any oil in the animal’s mouth or nose as this could cause suffocation. However, it is best to take the assistance of local vets in such cases, they added.