Lack of Funds, Veterinarians Plague Country’s First Camel Hospital

The country’s only camel shelter-cum-hospital located in Sirohi, Rajasthan, is plagued by a lack of funds and doctors. Managed by the People for Animals (PFA), which describes itself as “India’s largest animal welfare organisation” on its website and operates 26 hospitals and 165 units across the country, the shelter has a veterinarian who offers only online consultation.

Several of the 100 camels staying in the open are visibly sick with advanced mange. The infected camels don’t have a separate enclosure, which increases the risk of the infection spreading in the approximately two-acre shelter. One of the camels has an amputated foot and cannot stand.

“The doctor examines the sick animals online,” one staff member requesting anonymity because he is not allowed to speak with the press tells Newsclick. All the eight Raika staff members help to hold down a camel when it is administered an injection and are also responsible for the well-being of the animals. Four of them routinely move out looking for neem trees they can chop down to bring back fodder for the camels.

Camels are usually raised by nomadic Raika/Rebari herders, who travel vast distances along with their animals and often treat them like extended family members. Camels are also unused to being penned and need to keep moving to stay in good health. Traditionally, herders move with their camels and ensure that the animals have enough to graze on thistles, especially echinops echinatus, or oont khantalo, found in areas with little water. The oont khantalo (Indian globe thistle), disliked by farmers because it is hard to clear from the fields, is enjoyed by camels and is also believed to turn their milk sweet.

The PFA was founded by Lok Sabha MP Maneka Gandhi for the welfare of animals. However, the camels at the shelter are in miserable condition. One male camel tethered to a corner is frothing exceedingly, a sign that he is in rut. Another one has swallowed a broom.

A staff member mentioned the lack of funds for medicines. “We requested the MP but were asked to buy medicines and injections and wait for reimbursement,” he said. Some of the injections are quite expensive, the staff say. The lack of nutritious food for the animals is another problem. “We have bought neem fodder worth Rs 8 lakh,” he says.

Though the NGO has access to 34 sq km of surrounding forests for grazing the animals in an arrangement with the state forest department, it is not possible to let them out with only eight staff members. The Raika staff have a 9 am-5 pm workday unlike their traditional community members who spend 24 hours with their animals.

Newsclick tried to contact Maneka and the PFA over the phone for comments but got no response. An email was also sent to the parliamentarian. This report will be updated if she replies to the mail.

* Maneka Gandhi in her reply has stated that she will look into the matter immediately. 

* The story has been updated on 9/02/2022 to reflect comments of Maneka Gandhi. 

The writer is a freelance journalist.