Sujata Rajan
Ayu, now 26, has rented out an apartment to house several exotic birds who didn’t get a home. People for Animals (PfA), Bengaluru, has been working to rescue, treat, rehabilitate and release injured and orphaned wildlife back into their natural habitats for the past 30 years.
Much of the cost of fostering, food, medical care, and daily expenses are covered personally by me,” she says. Sujata, who works as an application support specialist for a US-based firm, says trusted veterinarians and clinics often allow treatment on credit, giving her time to raise the necessary funds. “The emphasis is not only on compassion and saving lives but also on maintaining transparency, accountability, and compliance with the law throughout the process,” says Sujata. “PfA veterinary team combines conventional medicine and surgery with innovative, species-specific techniques developed through years of field experience,” explains Colonel Dr Navaz Shariff, former DIG and chief wildlife veterinarian of PfA Hospitals.
“Most of the birds currently in my care have some form of disability or special need — there’s an African grey with metabolic bone disease (MBD), an African lovebird without legs and wings, and cockatiels and an eclectus parrot who are blind. Funding is one of the biggest challenges in animal rescue, admits Sujata Rajan, a full-time dog mom and foster mom for the past seven years. “But if there’s a rescue emergency, my priority is always to save the dog first and worry about funding later. The rescuers approach every SOS call with a strong focus on both animal welfare and legal responsibility. Injured, abandoned or distressed dogs are given immediate care and safety, while proper documentation and legal procedures are followed, especially in cruelty cases. For injured wildlife in the city, rehab is an essential part.