Nature is wild and we are RAWW (Resqink Association for Wildlife welfare)

RAWW – Resqink Association for Wildlife Welfare is a Mulund based NGO that works for the welfare of wildlife. The main aim of the RAWW is to spread awareness to people and include them in supporting and being part of conservation of wildlife of the city. There is a serious need for a new level conservation to be practiced in the city as maximum human activities have only caused destruction of nature and wildlife, the natural habitat of all the wildkinds is almost under great threat.

All the members and volunteers belong to different walks of life and majority of the team consists of the youth – from the age of 18 to 25. At present the team consists of more than 50 active members.

Different tasks undertaken or performed by us and our team members are as follows:

A group of well experienced and ethically trained snake rescuers is the most special feature and service of our NGO , our numbers are registered with the Forest department, Police department , fire brigades , B.M.C , disaster management and so on – we provide the service of rescue of snakes from commercial and residential areas of our suburbs – we then register them with the forest department Mumbai Range and then release them back to wild ( almost keep the release site secret for the protection of the species as disclosing the location may be misused by some individual or groups leading to wildlife crimes etc. )

Whenever we rescue a snake – we try making the locals aware about snakes – inform them basic safety and security tips that can avoid human reptile conflict. Provide with emergency helpline numbers for distress situations.

We also conduct awareness program's in schools, clubs and societies – with power point presentation and not live snakes – as according to the rules laid down by the department it is illegal to conduct snake shows / awareness sessions with live snakes, its only possible if there is a written permission from the concerned forest officer. We make people aware about such things, rules, regulations – dos and don’ts.

Snakes fascinate all of us and many times people feel like keeping them as pets or trying to catch them from the forest – we educate people that all the species of reptiles of our country are protected under the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972 and thus making such attempt can lead one behind the bars other than a fatal snake bite.

We also have a team of independent researchers – who are researching on different areas of science in wildlife like reptiles, birds, mammals their distribution, behavior etc.  Many national and international research papers are published, which can be further used and read by the future generations.

We also volunteer the Mumbai range forest department during human wildlife conflicts – where  wildlife is either in threat or the humans because of its presence – the main reason for this is animals do not understand boundaries like we humans do and thus sometimes cross the wild habitat and enter human habitat. What we try to do is motivate the people to co exist with the animals , by direct or indirect actions like not killing or threatening any wildlife and if a distress situation – approach the rescue team. This usually happens with the leopards – leading to human leopard conflict.  We conduct awareness program's with the rescue teams of Sanjay Gandhi National Park and also volunteer them during emergency rescues – by different strategies during different situations and thus showing people that even common man can be a part of wildlife welfare.

Most common things we come across are,

Common snakes - 

rat snake , checkered keelback water snake , buff striped keelback ,common kukri, common sand boa , wolf snakes , bronzeback tree snake, Indian rock python – all non venomous snakes.

Cobra, krait, russell’s viper, saw scaled viper, bamboo pit viper – all venomous snakes.

Vine snake, cat snakes ( common & foreston’s cat snakes ) – all semi-venomous.

Common Birds-

Kite, owls, pond heron, bats etc.

Common animals –

Monkeys, langurs, leopards.

Our teams make people aware regarding these animals and also helps the forest department in various activities for wildlife conservation and welfare by following all the official protocols which is actually very important.