Frog Dissections

Submitted by Linkesh on Mon, 2004-03-01 05:30

Zoology degree students of Kerala University had to conduct a series of practical experiments on frogs.Four of these were on live frogs. The live frogs had to be pithed (destroying the spinal chord with a needle) without anasthesia. Due to severe pain the frogs scream and urinate. It had a traumatizing effect on the students and many could not do it.

The students approached PFA trustees (most of whom are college lecturers), and we forwarded their petition of complaint to the Vice-Chancellor, the Registrar of the University, and the Chairperson of the Board of Studies with our personal request. This was in March 2004. From the next academic year onwards (2005-2006 onwards) all dissections of frogs have been removed from the syllabus. This has resulted in the saving of 6,000 frogs per year, and has saved the students from the trauma of the dissections.

Live and Let Live

The Kollam Chapter

This Kollam Chapter was formed in December 2003 by a group of similar-minded teachers. At that time there were no such organizations locally. It was registered under the Indian Trusts Act on February 5^th 2004, under the chairperson-ship of Smt Maneka Gandhi, MP.

We work via all avenues to improve conditions for animals locally. Among our most important programmes is the Animal Birth Control (ABC) initiative, wherein street animals are sterilized, vaccinated and returned to their colonies to live out their lives harmlessly and healthily. Another way we seek to reduce the stray population is by encouraging people to adopt Indian dogs from the street or shelters instead of buying foreign pedigrees.

Our awareness campaigns include schools and colleges, as a part of the functioning of the Kindness Club. We also conduct free veterinary camps in villages, during which free medicine and feed are distributed. We also vaccinate dogs and cats against rabies.

Our Animal Ambulance has been modified into a mobile Animal Clinic. The cost of the land for our Animal Shelter has been met via a grant from the National Chairperson Maneka Gandhi, and also through donations. The shelter construction has started, and is now half done. The grant for this construction was provided by the Animal Welfare Board of India.

Just one among many of our activities, the Kollam Chapter was instrumental in forming a Kindness Club to promote kindness and awareness among people.