Plant trees in Assam, breed crocs in the Andamans — take an eco vacation! Sejal Mehta has places you can volunteer

When the last tree is cut, the last river poisoned, and the last fish dead, we will discover that we can’t eat money,” says a Greenpeace banner.

We have read countless articles, seen innumerable television shows. We cringe when we see oil spills in the oceans, hear the cries of ‘Timber’ as forests come crashing down. It’s time to take action.

It does not take any special skills or superhuman abilities to be an activist. You just need to care enough about your world to want to preserve it. Here are the organisations you can volunteer with during your next vacation.

PEOPLE FOR THE ETHICAL TREATMENT OF ANIMALS (PETA)
With more than 7,50,000 members and offices in the US, the UK, Europe and India, PETA is the largest animal rights organisation in the world. PETA operates under the simple principle that animals are not ours to eat, wear, experiment on or use for entertainment.

* Help stray animals: Adopt the Animal Birth Control (ABC) programme and sterilise the dogs and cats in your area. It helps control their populations. Vaccinate your neighbour-hood dogs; this way you immunise your society against diseases as well.

* Do your own investigation: Is there an illegal slaughter house in your area, a circus or a pet shop selling exotic animals? Learn the laws, find out more info and report to your nearest police station and get action taken against these people. Alternatively, inform PETA and they can get a local activist involved.

* Be a zoo checker: The animals in zoos are closely confined, and have little opportunity for mental stimulation or physical exercise, which results in abnormal and self-destructive behaviour called ‘zoochosis’ (eg repeated head-bobbing, biting cage bars, pacing, producing stillborns, playing with excrement and injuring themselves). Watch out for these and report to PETA.

Contact PETA India on (022) 2628 1880

WORLDWIDE FUND FOR NATURE (WWF)
WWF has been working tirelessly for the environment for decades. Their programmes in India include marine and wetland ecology; forests, tiger and wildlife conservation; and trade monitoring, education and environmental law. WWF India hosts a variety of camps to educate and at the same time gives people a chance to ‘rough it up’ in the wild.

Subscriber Programmes for 2003
February 16: Nature outing at the Karnala Bird Sanctuary. Cost: Rs 150 for members and Rs 175 for non members.
February 21 - 23: Nature camp at Phansad Wildlife Sanctuary near Murud, Maharashtra. Phansad has some of the most endangered species. Camp cost: Rs 1,300 for members and Rs 1,600 for non-members.
April 18 - 28: Camp at Corbett Tiger Reserve and adjoining forests of the Kumaon region.

Other forthcoming camps:
# Trans-Himalayan region of Lahaul and Spiti, Himachal Pradesh.
# Bondla Wildlife Sanctuary in Goa.
# Grasslands of the Great Indian Bustard Sanctuary near Solapur.
# Camp to Ashkot-Musk Deer Sanctuary and Trek to Munsiari-Milam Glacier in October 2003.

For more details call WWF-India on (022) 2207 8105 or 2207 5142 or 2207 1970 or visit www.wwfindia.org

Blue Cross Of India