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Article in Westside
Plus dated 17th July 2001
Wildlife Chokes On Plastic Bags.
It has come to the norice of the Sanjay Gandhi Park officials
that animals in the park are suffering from oral and digestive
problems after chewing on the plastic bags disposed off by
the visitors.
 Following
this discovery, the officials are strictly implementing
the ban on plastic bags inside the park area, to prevent
further damage to the health of the animals in the park.
A penalty of Rs. 100 is being extracted from the defaulters
found to be carrying plastic bags inside the park area
despite the security check and written warnings at all
entrance gates.
The national park, which is a major draw for Mumbaiites
for spending a day out with the family, attracts a huge
number of picnickers every weekend. It is a commonplace
for these picnickers to carry their food supplies through
the day and then throw away the leftovers in one of the
plastic bags that they carry.
Over time, some of the animals in the park, have got accustomed
to eating these leftovers, which provide easy food in
the jungles.
According to a park official, no sooner the human beings
vacate the park premises, the animals, especially the
scavengers settle upon the bags containing the leftovers
and scout for the food inside it. At times when they are
unable to open the plastic bags, they chew the plastic
bags along with the food inside. IN the process, the plastic
causes immense damage to the mouth as well as the digestive
system.
As a result, not only do the plastic bags harm the fragile
environment of the national park, but they directly affect
the lives of the animals in the park.
Besides announcing penalty of Rs.100 on the defaulters,
the park officials have also roped in the services of
students, volunteers and NGOs to spread the awareness
about the dangers of disposing plastic bags inside the
park area.
Since a decrease in the usage of plastic bags has been
registered after the recent initiative, the park officials
are hopeful that over a period of time the park will be
free of plastic bags and the safety of animals will be
assured.
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