Authorities in New Delhi instructed to exterminate approximately 5,000 homeless dogs.
In a bid to combat the rising number of dog bite incidents and the spread of rabies, the Supreme Court of India has ordered the removal of stray dogs from high-risk areas in New Delhi.
The exact number of stray dogs in the city is uncertain, with estimates ranging from 60,000 (as per 2013 data) to potentially over one million. Hospital records indicate that New Delhi sees nearly 2,000 dog bite incidents each day. Rabies, a virus that invades the central nervous system of people bitten by an infected animal, is a significant concern, as if left untreated, it is almost always fatal.
The court's order comes in response to a surge in dog bite cases and has instructed authorities to capture 5,000 dogs within six to eight weeks, sterilize them, and relocate them to shelters. The proposal involves the animal welfare organizations Eyes on India and World Animal Protection to relocate hundreds of street dogs from New Delhi and shelter them in animal homes.
The court has also directed officials to publicize locations where anti-rabies vaccines are available and has established a 24-hour helpline for reporting dog bites. Special attention will be given to the comprehensive welfare of stray animals, according to Kapil Mishra, a minister in the Delhi government, who has welcomed the court's order, stating that it is a step toward freeing New Delhi "from the fear of rabies and stray animals."
However, not everyone agrees with the court's decision. Conservation biologist Bahar Dutt has criticized the order, calling it an "impractical, unscientific move." Vidit Sharma, founder of the animal welfare organization Save A Stray, has also expressed criticism, stating that the focus should be on humane solutions for street dogs in Delhi such as mass vaccination and sterilization.
The court has expressed concern about the safety of infants and young children from stray dogs and has warned animal activists not to obstruct the process of removing stray dogs from high-risk areas. The court's order does not specify what will happen to the stray dogs after they are sterilized and relocated to shelters, but Kapil Mishra has stated that special attention will be given to their welfare.
The World Health Organization reports that India accounts for more than a third of global rabies deaths, making the court's order a significant step in addressing this public health issue. It remains to be seen how the implementation of this order will impact the stray dog population in New Delhi and the city's efforts to combat rabies.
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