Latest news with #KrithikaSrinivasan
Time of India
2 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
SC stray order: Study finds most human–street dog encounters in India peaceful; aggression seen in only 2%
NEW DELHI: After the Supreme Court's order directing the removal of all stray dogs from Delhi-NCR streets and their placement in shelter homes sparked debate, a new research suggests that most human–street dog interactions in India are peaceful. According to PTI, a University of Edinburgh study on street dogs and public health, led by Professor Krithika Srinivasan, found that 82% of encounters involve approachable or neutral behaviour, while only 2% show aggression such as barking, chasing, or biting. The findings come just days after a bench headed by Justice JB Pardiwala, citing rising dog bite and rabies cases, directed civic bodies to capture strays, establish shelters with sterilisation and immunisation facilities, and warned that 'no captured animal should be released back on the streets.' The court also cautioned that anyone obstructing the drives could face contempt action. The study noted that over the past two decades, reported human rabies cases in India have dropped by nearly 75% from 274 in 2005 to 34 in 2022, a decline credited to mass dog vaccination and better access to post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP). Despite this progress, researchers warn that gaps in timely PEP access and adherence to vaccination schedules remain a serious concern. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Use an AI Writing Tool That Actually Understands Your Voice Grammarly Install Now Undo Professor Srinivasan research cautioned that culling or mass removal of street dogs can often backfire, as vacated areas may be repopulated by unfamiliar dogs or other potentially dangerous animals, disrupting existing ecological balances. A 2022–23 survey across 15 Indian states recorded a dog bite incidence of 4.7 per 1,000 people — far lower than the 18.7 per 1,000 reported in Cheshire, UK. Public opinion studies in Chennai, Jaipur, and Malappuram found 86% support for dog vaccination and 66% for neutering, while over 70% opposed culling. Opposition rose to 77% among those who had personally been chased or bitten by stray dogs. The research calls for a science-led, community-based approach, including universal, free PEP, sustained vaccination drives, food waste control, community education, and responsible caregiving, stressing that elimination policies may seem like a quick fix but fail to ensure long-term public safety. Earlier, dog lovers also insisted that proper vaccination and sterilisation should be the focus and not removal. 'Work should be done for animal birth control,' said a member of Save Animal, an NGO. 'Removing dogs in this manner is wrong.'
India Today
3 days ago
- Health
- India Today
Delhi dog removal may reverse rabies gains, create chaos: Edinburgh professor
India's hard-earned progress in rabies prevention could be 'substantially reversed' if the Supreme Court's recent order on removing street dogs is implemented, warns Prof. Krithika Srinivasan, Principal Investigator of the ROH-Indies research project at the University of an exclusive conversation, Prof. Srinivasan, whose work combines human geography, behavioural ecology, and public health, made it clear that the proposed measures risk derailing two decades of steady has made remarkable gains, reported human rabies deaths have dropped from 274 in 2005 to just 34 in 2022. But these health gains are fragile. Mass removal of dogs breaks up vaccinated, stable populations and triggers movement, increasing bite risks and rabies exposure,' she VACUUM EFFECT: A PROBLEM THAT BITES BACK The 'vacuum effect', a term many in the public may not have heard before, is central to her warning.'When community dogs are removed, the empty space is quickly filled by new, often unvaccinated dogs from surrounding areas,' Prof. Srinivasan explained. 'This disrupts herd immunity and creates instability.'The phenomenon is not unique to India. In the UK, after street dogs were eliminated, foxes and gulls filled the gap, both now considered urban nuisances and, in some cases, safety threats. In North America, coyotes, raccoons, skunks and even hybrid coywolves have taken over the ecological DOGS ARE NOT THE WHOLE PROBLEMEven countries without free-living dogs continue to struggle with bites and fatalities.'In England and Wales, hospital admissions for dog bites rose 88% between 2007 and 2021-22, and deaths linked to dogs have surged by 850% since 1983. Most of these incidents involve owned dogs, not strays,' Prof. Srinivasan research shows India's street dog bite rates are actually lower than in parts of the UK, a surprising finding that challenges the assumption that eliminating street dogs will automatically improve public CASE FOR ABC AND MASS VACCINATIONIndia's existing policy, the Animal Birth Control-Anti Rabies Vaccination (ABC-ARV) programme, is both cost-effective and globally endorsed by the WHO.'When done properly, ABC-ARV stabilises dog populations, reduces rabies, and lowers injury risks. Goa's rabies control programme recorded zero human rabies deaths for five consecutive years after its intensive vaccination and sterilisation drive,' she she emphasises that the current scale is inadequate. 'We need far more investment in universal, free post-exposure prophylaxis, mass vaccination, and public education on safe human-dog interactions,' she OPINION ISN'T AS POLARISED AS HEADLINES SUGGESTSContrary to the perception that the public overwhelmingly wants dogs removed, Prof. Srinivasan's surveys across Chennai, Jaipur, and Malappuram reveal a majority support vaccination and sterilisation over than 70% opposed killing all street dogs, even amongst those who had been bitten. The picture is far more moderate than extreme social media narratives suggest,' she THE COURT'S CONCERN IS VALID, BUT THE FIX COULD BACKFIREWhile Prof. Srinivasan acknowledges the Court's intent to safeguard public health, she warns that high-visibility removals can create a 'false sense of having taken action' while diverting resources from measures that actually work.'If the goal is to reduce rabies and bites, the science is clear, removal is not the way,' she concluded. 'Cities thrive when public health measures are rooted in science, implemented consistently, and supported by communities.'- EndsMust Watch
