School for animals
Kolar: The Government Higher Primary School in a remote village called Kashettihalli in the Srinivaspura taluk of Kolar district has become a safe shelter for injured wild animals and birds. Mr S Raghunath, the headmaster of the school and a noted Kannada writer, has the unique hobby of treating such unfortunate beings.

Disabled or injured birds and animals like rabbit, deer, turtle, parrot, dove, crane, and so on, which would have otherwise been killed by dogs are rescued and brought to the school by people who care for animals.

The latest guest to the school is a pretty fawn, rescued in an unconscious state on the road leading to a forest closeby. According to Mr Raghunath, one of his old students brought the fawn in his car and handed it over to him. It was very weak and did not respond to cow’s milk. It however showed signs of recovery after being fed with goat’s milk.

Mr Raghunath, who is aware of the Wild Animal Protection Act, plans to hand over the fawn to a deer sanctuary after it gains enough strength to take care of itself.

A rescued turtle, the young one of a rabbit and some gunny pigs are the other guests in the school. School children provide them milk, rice, grass and grain. Mr Raghunath sometimes takes the advice of veterinary doctors in nursing the injured animals.

 R Chowda Reddy