The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said on Thursday that the population of stray dogs in Mumbai has reached 1.64 lakh. BMC said that compared to the year 2014, it is about 72 percent more. Let us inform you that before this, the initiative of digital identification of dogs roaming in the streets was also started in Mumbai. Under this, data has to be prepared regarding dogs.
In a release issued by BMC, it was said that according to the census done in the year 2014, the population of stray dogs in the city was 95 thousand. The statement further said that BMC has prepared to conduct the next stray dog census in January 2024. Along with this, a large-scale rabies vaccination campaign is also proposed in February 2024.
In the issued statement, BMC has said that about one lakh stray dogs will be vaccinated in the next ten days. With the help of some NGOs, the BMC on Tuesday vaccinated 26 stray dogs at the Mumbai International Airport.
Last month, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has taken the initiative of digital identification of stray dogs. For this there will be QR tagging of animals. For the first time the civic agency has taken this step. Tags with QR codes were hung around the dogs’ necks, through which their complete details would be found. This information will also have data on vaccination of dogs, their sterilization and their names kept digitally. With this, BMC will get accurate data through a centralized database.
BMC General Manager Dr. Kalimpasha Pathan had said that we are trying to collect data through QR code enabled dog tags, to decide its utility and cost. This is a pilot project, we have to see how it can be taken forward.
He also said that it is necessary to see if the dogs allow the collar to be kept around their neck for a long time. We need to know its better result. Man vs dog conflict has become a serious problem. This is becoming a new threat. So we are looking at what else can be done to reduce it.