Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, Sept 20: Vivek Manyapu is a final-year BSC (Agriculture) student of Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT). The ever-smiling Vivek is popular in the neighbourhood. Vivek who aspires to be an environmentalist in the days to come has started taking small steps towards becoming one at an early age. He rescues animals under threat living in his close proximity and has now lost count of the number of lives he has saved.
“It has now become a part and parcel of my life. I love to care for animals and the satisfaction I get after saving a single life keeps me going. I have rescued a number of species of snakes, squirrels, stray dogs, cats and rabbits that otherwise would have been killed by the people around them,” says Vivek.
His love for animals and even insects came to light when he refused to appear at the practical examinations in college that involved trapping insects and displaying them on a box. The examination included pinning their small features with steel pins.
However, many of his classmates were astonished when a cobra that accidentally ventured into the classroom was successfully rescued by the 22-year-old Vivek while the others were scared to bits and had started running for their lives. The cobra was released in a nearby forest.
“The incident really surprised my classmates. I was fond of watching Animal Planet on TV and through it I learnt the art of catching snakes. I can also differentiate between poisonous and non-poisonous snakes. Besides TV shows on animals I have also done a lot of research through internet on tips to care for animals,” Vivek says.
Vivek is popular in his locality for the rescue operations of stray dogs he has been carrying out over the last many months. “Whenever I witness some injured stray dog, I immediately take him with me. Sometimes I administer first aid or else consult a veterinarian. Injury cases are plenty and so are cases of road accidents. Neither unruly children who pelt stones at dogs nor speeding vehicles care for the mute creatures,” Vivek said.
The young agriculture student has turned many of his discarded household items into temporary shelters for animals in need of immediate care. He has constructed warm shelters for rats and squirrels. Vivek has used straw, cotton and old clothes to set up the temporary shelters.
Many of his close friends are lending him a helping hand. Vivek is now working with Darshana Patra, another final-year student of agriculture science at OUAT on rescuing animals in need of help.
Son of a government of Orissa staff posted in the state secretariat, Vivek has launched a training programme for schoolchildren to build a sustainable environment.
