Hello Friends,
Being involved in rescue activities, we get very nice and memorable experiences.
Today evening it happened the same with me. Fr. Hector Pinto(Principle st. Xavier’s school) called me and asked me if I can go to out of Gandhinagar for a rescue operation. As it is my passion and life mission, there was no point to deny. He told me that there was a Porcupine, fell in a water tank at ‘Shramjivi Seva School’ near Bileshwarpura, Chhatral GIDC area and gave me phone number of the priest there, Fr. Fernando. I called him and got the exact location of the place and started for the mission along with my father Mr. Chaitanya Nimavat(Hon. Wild-Life warden) and two other volunteers. We also managed for a rope ladder and some 20 meters long rope.
As we reached the spot, we were welcomed by Mr. Ronaldo, who was waiting for us on the Highway. He guided us towards the place, where the porcupine had fall. It was a 10”x10”x8” constructed water tank, which was having very small amount of water but very much mud and around 50 frogs to accompany the porcupine. Poor creature, all wet and sad, was lying in a dark corner of the muddy tank. I examined the place thoroughly. It was dark because it was almost 8.00 PM. Two thin still sheets and few rods were put on the tank to protect it. Half dried-half green grass grown surrounding it. Obviously it was an abandoned place. Then I took a torch and watch the animal distinctly with a pale light. It was 26-27 inches long and looking weak (it was in that hell since last three days). The tank bottom was having 8” to 10” of mud, so I decided not to jump in it, if we can find some other option. We tied an empty fruit container (3’x2’x2’) with a rope on both ends and hanged it near the porcupine. But it didn’t like to just go and seat in it. It got little annoyed and ran to another corner of the tank. A chorus of disturbed and running away frogs filled the atmosphere. I felt that the animal would never come out easily by these tactics. I decided to use other options. It was simple, the animal was there for a long time and was hungry and desperate to come out, but with out any human interference. So we took one of the steel sheets and lowered it in the tank slanting position. One end was towards one corner in bottom and the other was on the opposite upper corner of the tank was set. Then I started to draw the porcupine to the lower end of the sheet with a long stick. It was not an easy task.
It got furious and attacked the stick with its long erected quills. I realized how this attack could be dangerous if we were inside the tank. And why large carnivorous avoid to irritate a porcupine. I tried a lot to drive it near the sheet, but the stick in my hand was not having proper grip for it. Then I saw a dried tree branch with a ‘V’ shape on its end. I took it and used it as a supportive instrument. And YES…..I was able to block the animal with that ‘V’ shape. I gave a thrust to the porcupine from back side and pushed towards the sheet. The animal also felt that it can climb upwards with my support and it started to response positively. Then I needed to support it hardly 3 times to save it from slipping from the sheet. It climbed very slowly but successfully. As it came out, just looked around for awhile and marched away towards the land which was covered with thick grass and other vegetations, the way, probably it had come from. We all were happy for an animal which was rescued and went back to its habitat and will start free life again.
Our Rescue team members:-
· Mr. Chaitanya Nimavat (Hon. Wild-life warden Gandhinagar Dist.)
·Mr. Mahavir Nimavat (Wild-Life Rescue Mission Director Vanshree Trust)
· Mr. Ibrahim Fakir (Group Coordinator Vanshree Trust)
· Mr. Jigar Thakor (Volunteer Vanshree Trust)
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