Animal paws imprinted on the roads in the Nepali city of Lalitpur to create awareness about the welfare of stray animals. (Photo by Binod Ghimire/Xinhua)
In response to growing deaths and injuries of stray dogs and other animals in road accidents, Sneha's Care, a non-governmental organization working on animal welfare and protection, started imprinting animal paws on all the zebra crossings in the Nepali city of Lalitpur.
KATHMANDU, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- Animal paws are being imprinted on the roads in the Nepali city of Lalitpur with a view to creating awareness about the welfare of stray animals.
In response to growing deaths and injuries of stray dogs and other animals in road accidents, a non-governmental organization initiated a campaign in collaboration with the Lalitpur Metropolitan City in the Kathmandu Valley.
Sneha's Care, the NGO working on animal welfare and protection, has started imprinting animal paws on all the zebra crossings in Lalitpur since last Friday.
Animal paws imprinted on the roads in the Nepali city of Lalitpur to create awareness about the welfare of stray animals. (Photo by Binod Ghimire/Xinhua)
"At least 30 animals, mostly dogs, are injured in road accidents every month while many are even killed," Sneha Shrestha, founder of Sneha's Care, told Xinhua. "The paw prints will be helpful in creating awareness among the drivers and riders."
She said paw prints have been adopted in different countries to raise awareness about lives of stray animals being equally important, and in Lalitpur animal paws have been imprinted in 10 zebra crossings each day since Friday.
Sneha Care has given shelter to 170 stray dogs injured in road accidents, along with dozens of injured cows and oxen, pigs and goats, among others.
Animal paws imprinted on the roads in the Nepali city of Lalitpur to create awareness about the welfare of stray animals. (Photo by Binod Ghimire/Xinhua)
"We believe the accidents involving stray animals will come down once the paws are imprinted," Chiribabu Maharjan, mayor of Lalitpur, told Xinhua. "The animals must get to travel safely on the roads. Everyone must be concerned about their lives."
According to Arjun Aryal, information officer with the Central Referral Veterinary Hospital in Kathmandu, indifference of drivers and riders to animals on the streets are contributing to increasing accidents.
"The drivers and riders are concerned about human beings because there are strong laws in place, but they are indifferent when it comes to animals," he said. "It is necessary to create awareness among the general public about the wellbeing of the animals." ■