Protect animals during heatwave

As the India Meteorological Department has issued a warning claiming that heatwave conditions are very likely to develop in isolated pockets of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and central India over the coming days, it becomes imperative that the kindhearted people of Jammu should play their role in providing succor to birds, dogs, monkeys and stray cattle during the upcoming hot days. Still the May month is five days far but the mercury in Jammu has crossed the 40 degree mark making it very difficult for the voiceless creatures to cope up with the extreme weather conditions.

It is therefore important that people in large numbers should take a cue from communities in Rajasthan that invariably place water containers in various locations to ensure that birds and animals have access to water during the scorching summer months. Although during earlier times, there were many  places in Jammu also where people have voluntarily made open and approachable water tanks for horses and cows to drink water all through the year but with changing times and less presence of these animals, the practice has faded away.

It is necessary that people should understand that birds and other animals mostly depend on humans for quenching their thirst as natural resources have become scarce therefore it is the time that every rooftop and places around localities should have water containers filled with clean drinking water for the animal kingdom so  that no avain, canine, cow or monkey should remain dehydrated during the heatwave.

Our religious scriptures also place a strong emphasis on compassion and non-violence towards all living beings, encouraging practices that alleviate suffering therefore during the summer time when many natural water resources turn dry, it is crucial that people should spare some time for nature and take necessary measures to provide water for drinking to the animals.

Placing water containers in open spaces can help animal kingdom to tackle heatwaves firmly and with hydrated spirits. What is more important for the people in Jammu is to discuss this issue with fellow citizens to spread awareness and make the region water sufficient for those who rely on humans for their water needs as  they have usurped animals resources with the expansion of their dwelling sites and exploiting natural resources extensively and even needlessly.