Post Tsunami Revitalization Project
Background
The tsunami hit the Sri Lankan coast on 24th December 2004; with the north, east and south coasts’ most severely affected by this natural disaster. More than sixty thousand people have died and thousands of people lost their relatives, livelihoods and homes. Thousands of animals also died and thousands more animals were homeless, injured and traumatized. The majority of farm animals and some of the companion anim als were resettled by their owners in their resettlement camps or homes of close relatives and friends.
Many humanitarian agencies responded well to the disaster and rehabilitation work was initiated almost immediately. Several local and international animal welfare organizations entered the scene as an immediate post tsunami response; focusing mainly on animal rescue, feeding, rabies vaccination, sterilization and other relief work.
Introduction
Blue Paw Trust, one of the member societies of the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA), was one of the first groups to join in the post tsunami animal rehabilitation work. BPT launched small scale rescue, treating sick and injured animals, providing foods to devastated animals, rabies vaccination, and other relief works in the severely affected eastern and southern parts of Sri Lanka. Approximately 20,000 dogs were vaccinated during this early response phase, lasting through March 2005.
After the December 2004 Tsunami in Sri Lanka, there was a great need for continuing animal welfare work along the affected coastal areas. Due to the persistent widespread disruption, there was anxiety concerning outbreaks of rabies and other zoonotic diseases that would impact human health. This led to a threat of large scale stray dog elimination as an immediate control measure. Had such a program been realized, given the lack of experience and facilities for humane euthanasia, many companion animals would have undergone horrific and traumatic deaths.
As a member society, Blue Paw Trust was invited by WSPA to join them in their efforts to address this fear by vaccinating animals against rabies and also conducting mass sterilization and public education campaigns.
Project Mission
To assist communities in the rehabilitation phase post Tsunami by providing Veterinary service in areas where such services may have been disrupted.
Funded by WSPA and managed by Blue Paw Trust, two fully equipped mobile clinics carry out sterilizations and vaccination programs at selected field sites with the assistance of local authorities and community leaders such as public health inspectors.
Area of Operations
Two teams of dedicated veterinary surgeons cover the coastal area extending from Trincomalee to Bentota, up to 7 kilometers inland. All aspects of animal welfare and health are addressed, especially in areas where there is minimal or no veterinary care available. By providing high quality professional services Blue Paw Trust endeavors to enhance the image and role of the veterinarian in these rural areas. The field teams work at community centers, temples, schools and other such public areas where the need is perceived. The following map describes the areas covered by the WSPA/BPT post- tsunami revitalization project:
