Help in Suffering Pushkar Camp Report 2023
Help in Suffering (HIS) based in India thank AAA donors for their support. They have sent us a report on their 2023 activities for the Pushkar camp.
The animal kingdom plays an important role in the life of Indian people. Animals are involved with their economy, their livelihood, their rituals and worships as well. There are numerous animal fairs held every year and each fair has its own significance. Pushkar fair is one of the most popular and colourful fairs of the ‘Thar’ desert of Rajasthan, is held in Pushkar, every year in the month of October- November. Pushkar is a holy town for the Hindus located about 150 kms from Jaipur in Rajasthan. Pushkar is famous for its temples and ghats. It is one of the oldest cities of India. Traders and villagers from all over Rajasthan and neighbouring states gather with thousands of camels for trading. Nearly 8000 camels, horses and bullocks were assembled this year from all over northern India. Many animals and their owners walk for days to be at the fair. Few of them use different modes of transportation like trucks to bring their animals to the fair.
Help In Suffering (HIS) organized a week-long free Camel treatment camp at the fair from 17th November to 24th November 2023.
Team composition
Vets- Dr. Abhinav Swami, Dr Jitendar Jhingonia
Compounders- Rajendra, Bhagwan Das, Lalchand, Vimal, Dilpal and Kamlesh.
DESCRIPTION OF OUR WORK AT THE FAIR:
A total number of 553 camels were treated for various clinical problems. 300 camels were de-wormed to reduce the gastric worm load. Camel owners were advised to follow the de-worming schedule for at least once in three months to keep their camels healthy.
Many of the cases presented to the camp, had gastric disturbances which mainly include simple indigestion along with few cases of diarrhoea, colic, and impaction. Sudden change in feed and water, stress due to long journey and diurnal variations of temperature during the fair are the main factors responsible for gastric problems.
A major proportion of camels were suffering from different wounds like nose peg wounds, saddle sore wounds, leg injuries, eye injuries, punctured foot pad wounds etc. Treating Nose peg wound injuries was the major challenge to the team as each and every owner was explained the significance importance of plastic nose pegs over the wooden and metal ones.
Lameness was frequently observed as people brought their camels from long distances without sufficient rest. Camels are on a high risk of lameness when owners walk for days together or during loading and unloading in the trucks to bring their camels to the fair.
This year 224 camels were treated for skin infections like mange and other external parasites.
Camels are very much prone to road accidents on highways because of their invisibility during night. These accidents mostly resulted into fatal injuries to camels and their owners. 504 pairs of reflectors were fixed to the camel carts by HIS team.
Approx.1150 leaflets were distributed to camel owners to make them understand about better management practices & caring of their camels. These leaflets are printed in vernacular with self explanatory pictures on it. These leaflets are very much useful to explain about the proper management of nose peg and saddle-sore wounds, optimum weight limit, significance of reflectors and routine checkups of the camels.
An emergency case of accident
One day when our team was just returned after lunch, we received a call from a camel owner Dhanna lal . He said that his camel is badly injured by an iron hook attached to a truck. He purchased the camel from the camp and about to leave for his village Goner. He was so scared and sad because of his camel’s condition and the loss he might face.
The wound was fresh and required immediate surgery. The whole preparation was done and the surgery was done by our vet Dr. Jitendar successfully under sedation. Appropriate antibiotics and painkillers were administered. The owner was advised to provide adequate rest and nutritious food to the camel and to keep the wound clean.
The owner was very happy and grateful to our entire team for this quick help.
Help In Suffering is thankful to all our donors and supporters for their kind support for organizing the Pushkar camp for welfare of camels.
