This dear little chick is only a few days old, but already she has narrowly avoided a terrifying death by live burial.
She’s one of 150 chicks Animal Rahat has taken custody of after they were rescued from a farmer who planned to bury them alive.
It’s a horrifying fate, but it’s one that many birds in India are facing as a result of farmers’ fears of business losses during the COVID-19 pandemic. One farmer buried more than 200,000 chickens alive! This was done despite government orders prohibiting the practice and laws that explicitly forbid this cruel and illegal method of killing.
Suddenly taking responsibility for 150 desperate young chickens wasn’t in Animal Rahat’s plans, but with so many lives on the line, the team knew it had to act—and fast.
Arrangements were made to transfer the chicks into Animal Rahat’s care, but transporting so many vulnerable animals on a 10-hour journey to their new sanctuary home was no easy task. Luckily, the organization’s expert staff knew just what to do. The transport team took frequent breaks during the trip to ensure that all the chicks were as safe and warm as possible and to offer them meals of fresh watermelon.
Everyone arrived safely, and the birds are settling into their new accommodations nicely. Now that they’ve been rescued, they’ll be able to grow up with access to food, shelter, medical care, and even plenty of outdoor space to enjoy.
But this is just the beginning, because chicks this young require special care and the sanctuary space where they now reside will need upgrades to meet their growing needs.
