Three rabbits were abandoned there recently; experts warn that these pets are often ill and might pass on the disease to wildlife that could prey upon them.
Local residents have been complaining that several times a month they come across abandoned dogs and other pets, which are left in the forest in the night by pet owners. As these rabbits are not a protected species, the Forest Department did not rescue them.
Assistant Commissioner, Wildlife, Dr Shailesh Pethe said, “It will set a dangerous precedent if exotic pets and dogs are abandoned in protected areas. It can introduce new pathogens leading to diseases for which wildlife has zero natural immunity.”
A local resident, said, “Aarey is an isolated area and post sunset it becomes easy for pet owners to abandon animals. Several times we come across abandoned pet dogs and cats roaming on the road. In many cases they are either ill or old.”
They had seen a pattern in rise of people buying pets during the lockdown and now as things are opening up, they have come across cases of dumping and abandoning their pets.
