VMAAF

Fifth Venu Menon National Animal Awards: 2003

The chief guest for the Venu Menon National Animal Awards 2003 held at the India Habitat Centre on 19 February was Shri K. R. Narayanan, Former President of India. David Shepherd, internationally acclaimed wildlife artist and conservationist, delivered the third Venu Menon Memorial Lecture.

The jury comprised Usha Uthup, singer; Sathya Saran, Editor, Femina; Fardeen Khan, actor; Iqbal Malik, environmentalist, primatologist and head of Delhi-based NGO, Vatavaran; Jacob V. Cheeran, veterinarian and expert on captive elephant care; and K. B. Menon, Chairman, VMAAF.

Venu Menon Lifetime Achievement Award
Dashrathbhai Thaker

Octogenarian Dashrathbhai Thaker has devoted more than 50 years of his life to "sub-humans". He runs shelters in various places in Gujarat where stray animals such as donkeys, horses, goats and cows saved from the clutches of slaughter houses can find a new home. On an average, he has rescued not less than 300 animals every year. He has also been single-handedly responsible for the setting up of a number of animal hospitals in his state.

Venu Menon Animal Allies Award
Angela Kazi

Angela Kazi is the best person to turn to in Goa if one wishes to save an animal in distress. Her PetPal column in a newspaper has been able to find homes for puppies. She saves cattle from slaughter houses. It was her prompt action that led to the conviction of the dog killers hired by the Margaon Port Trust . A member of the Animal Welfare Board of Goa and Animal Welfare Board of India, she currently assists the Panjim Municipal Council in animal-related matters. She was the founder trustee and honorary secretary of the PFA for five years and helped set up three animal shelters in Goa.

Special Organisation Award
People For Animals, Bangalore
People For Animals, Bangalore, has been at the forefront of the animal welfare movement in the capital city of Karnataka state. One of the organisation's major achievements was the recent campaign which stopped the ritual hunting and sacrifice of wildlife in 58 villages around the city. Its campaigns have resulted in the disbanding of elephant training camps, stopping of camel slaughter and electrocution of dogs by the authorities, and killing of dogs in a military school, among other things.

Jury's Special Award
Edna Simmons

Septuagenarian Edna Simmons has spent half her life in feeding, nursing, treating and taking care of stray dogs and cats in the Colaba area of Mumbai where she lives. She ensures that these animals are well looked after, are rabies free, and sterilised in time. Being financially strapped herself has not deterred her. She climbs up and down 105 rickety stairs everyday, tips the ambulance attendants when required, and knows each of her wards by sight.

David Shepherd Wildlife Award
Subrat Mukherjee

West Bengal Conservator of Forests, Subrat Mukherjee has devoted himself to the protection and conservation of wildlife for more than 15 years. He has served as the Deputy Field Director, Sundarban Tiger Reserve, and built an effective intelligence network in the state which has resulted in major seizures of wildlife articles and the arrest of almost 170 persons. His efforts in habitat improvement by grassland management in Jaldapara Wildlife Sanctuary have been widely commended.

WTI Van Rakshak Award
M. Kalan

A tribal forest watcher in Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary, M. Kalan has been instrumental in the arrest of a number of elephant poachers in the Mudumalai Range of the sanctuary in the past three years. In all cases, arms and ammunition were recovered from the miscreants. His courage, dedication and hawk-eyed vigilance, going beyond the call of duty, have contributed greatly to reducing the incidence of elephant poaching in the sanctuary.

WTI Endangered Species Award
Mike Pandey
Documentary filmmaker Mike Pandey's riveting essay on celluloid, Shores of Silence: Whale Sharks in India, went a long way in building up a strong global case for the conservation and protection of the world's largest fish, which are highly endangered. He has won various awards worldwide for his films on wildlife. He also runs Earth Matters Foundation, an organisation that works for wildlife conservation.

WTI Leadership in Conservation Award
Navprabhat
The dynamic Forests Minister of Uttaranchal, Mr Navprabhat, has been leading the crusade to save wildlife by example. In August 2002, the minister himself led a raid on suspected dealers of wildlife parts and products in Haridwar following a tip-off. It has been because of Mr Navprabhat’s personal endeavours that police and forest officials have had the necessary support in clamping down on wildlife crime in the fledgling state of Uttaranchal.

Jury's Merit Certificate
D.L. Verma
A proactive and resolute officer of the Uttaranchal Police, DL Verma has come down heavily on those involved in trade of wildlife articles in Udham Singh Nagar district of the state. He, and his peer S.S. Negi have been involved in nineteen major seizures of wildlife articles in the district between January 2000 and September 2002. His personal interest in curbing wildlife crime over 10 years goes beyond the call of duty.

S.S. Negi
An IPS officer of the Uttaranchal cadre, SS Negi has come down heavily on those involved in trade of wildlife articles in Udham Singh Nagar district of the state. He, and his colleague, D.L. Verma, have been involved in nineteen major seizures of wildlife articles in the district between January 2000 and September 2002. His personal interest in curbing wildlife crime over 10 years goes beyond the call of duty.

Naresh Kumar Kadyan
The chairman of People For animals In Haryana, Mr Naresh Kumar Kadyan, is a specialist in footwear technology. It was at the initiative of Mr Kadyan that the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests took steps against a major circus company for violation of notifications on exhibition and training of animals. Mr Kadyan, who runs an animal shelter and hospital called Jeev Kalyan Vatika, has also been instrumental in the ongoing rehabilitation process of Kalanders.

Young Achiever Merit Certificate
Twinkle Gogia
Twenty-year-old Twinkle Gogia has been working for the welfare for animals for eight years, but 2002 was special for her – this year she could save the lives of many poor creatures with her own pocket money. She does her bit in trying to get stray animals picked up by animal welfare organisations from various parts of Delhi.

Samira
Twelve-year-old Samira provides shelter to stray dogs at her own home. Not so long ago, Samira was herself not allowed to play with stray dogs. Her parents gave in to her wishes and let dogs into their house. Today, she has a separate room where she tends to wounded or terminally-ill puppies. She spends all her pocket money and gifts on stray dogs alone.

Vishal Morey
Student Vishal Morey is not well-off. But, this does not deter him from helping out animals in distress. His heart goes out to all animals and he spends all that he can save out on the welfare of animals.

K Kannan
Eighteen-year-old K Kannan chips in with his bit for animal welfare in a novel way – he publishes a free magazine about animals from Mumbai called Animag. This magazine carries news about animals, provides practical advice on grooming, training and feeding animals, apart from highlighting facts about cruelty to animals.

Designed and developed by Inscriptions