ACT arranges to feed starving monkeys at Bantwal's Karinjeshwara Temple

Mangaluru: Animal Care Trust(ACT) located in Mangaluru’s Shaktinagar has been caring for stray, abandoned animals by providing them with much-needed care and shelter.

The NGO has been making efforts to sensitise people to the issue of animal abuse. With the motto of adopt don’t shop, ACT has been conducting adoption camps for desi pups, kittens where interested people can adopt a pet.

Even in time of the Coronavirus pandemic, volunteers of the NGO have been out on the streets to feed the stray animals that have been affected owing to the nation-induced lockdown. Their acts have encouraged several citizens to come forward and feed the strays in and around their area.

Animal Care Trust Trustee, Suma R Nayak on April 18 came to know that hundreds of monkeys, at the Sri Karinjeshwara Temple in Bantwal were starving and immediately reached out to volunteers in Bantwal area to arrange food for the monkeys.

Suma Nayak, in a facebook post wrote that these monkeys are dependent on the Nivedya (prasad) given by the temple as well as the food provided by the large number of devotees visiting the temple everyday. While they are still being provided with the Nivediya, there was a major shortage of food supply as devotees are not visiting the temple due to the lockdown.

Responding to Suma Nayak’s appeal, Ramith, one of the NGO’s volunteers introduced her to Mr. Shashikiran, a friend of his, who lives about 4 kms from the temple. Mr. Shashikiran immediately volunteered to procure rice and with the help of his friends would cook and distribute it to the monkeys. Suma contacted Mr. Satish Prabhu, the temple manager, requesting if Mr.Shashikiran with his friends could use their temple facility to cook rice and distribute it to the monkeys. The temple management was more than happy to lend their support.

A donor in Mangaluru came forward and donated 100 kgs of bannanas for the monkeys and also arranged to transport it to the temple along with 50kgs of rice from the stock that Animal Care Trust collected for stray animal feeding.

The trust been feeding over 2000 animals every day owing to the support from donors, the general public, friends and family.

Such success stories, the amazingly quick turn around time, people like Mr.Shashikran and his friends, the temple management and the donor coming forward within a matter of 24 hours encourages the trustees, staff and volunteers of Animal Care Trust to believe that we can do wonders. We will try our best to make sure no animal goes hungry during this unprecedented time for the World, reads the FB post.