Not often do we come across people who care about the environment and animal kingdom, and here we have a man who has gone the extra mile to show his love for birds and strays. He dropped the prospect of a job at a bank to dedicate his entire time to servicing the voiceless.
Chandigarh’s Prince Mehra was a humble painter when he developed an affinity towards birds and animals way back in 1990. One thing led to the other, and he now helms a full-fledged bird ambulance on his e-bicycle and works as a full-time animal attendant at HSPA hospital in the city. His work includes rescuing distressed strays from around the vicinity, which he does on the hospital’s EV.
While on his rescue outing, Mehra also buries the bodies of birds that are found dead. He believes that “birds, too, deserve a respectable burial.” Although locals reach him over the phone number listed on a handcrafted first-aid pannier box, he goes out and about the city on his own, looking for sick or dead animals by himself.
“I visited Ferozpur in 2011 and witnessed a garbage collector throwing away the bodies of two birds in a dustbin. I carried the bodies to the nearest open area, dug a pit for them, and buried them there. That evening, I couldn’t help but think about how cruelly humans are treating animals. Furthermore, inappropriate disposals significantly raise the risk of disease transmission. That is when I made the decision to turn my bicycle into a bird ambulance after deliberating for four days,” Mehra shared with Life Beyond Numbers.
He has social messages permanently mounted on his tandem bicycle in order to raise awareness of his admirable aim. For the same, Prince spends 20–30% of his monthly income to acquire printing material that he distributes to the local people.
Also, read: Meet The Nest Man Of India Who Has Built Lakhs Of Homes For Birds
When Prince Mehra notices a dead cadaver, he excavates a tiny pit nearby and buries it there. The bird is transported home, where it has made arrangements for medical care in the event of a small injury. Seriously injured birds are sent to the veterinary clinic where they can heal.
“In the summer, the majority of calls are about cases of dehydration. To combat this, I even gave mud pots to street sellers and asked them to fill them with water every day”, told Prince Mehra.
Prince Mehra – The Bird Man Of India
Since 2011, Mehra has buried 1,254 birds and treated 1,150. He has earned the utmost respect in the neighborhood for his unselfish deed. The zoophilist consequently receives calls from far-off locations. This has made Prince Mehra popularly known as the “Bird Man of India.” His widespread acclaim was evident after a nationalized bank gave him the e-bike, which he now uses to provide the ambulance service.
“Since my cycle prevents me from traveling to distant locations on time, I direct them over the phone. People, including children, have started to care for the birds as a result of the attention”, he said.
His family also supports him, and on occasion, his kids come along to help him care for a wounded bird.
“My daughter is enrolled in Class 11, and my son pursues an architectural diploma. They occasionally join me on my missions. I explain to them—as well as the general public—that we ought to treat animals and birds like they are a part of us. They play a significant role in ecology. We should protect the ecology,” Prince shared.
Also, read: Schools Kids Are Learning To Whistle To Save A 400-Year-Old Bird Language In This Country
Recognition
Prince Mehra’s work has won numerous accolades from national and international organizations for his amazing concept of the Cycle Bird Ambulance. His work is acknowledged by different World Records organizations and books that contain his name.
Besides this, Prince Mehra joined the NGO Yuvsatta in 1990. Later, he dedicated his life to environmental preservation. He draws inspiration from renowned environmentalist Sunderlal Bahugana, who founded the Chipko Movement to protect forests.
On January 5, which is National Bird Day, Prince Mehra conveys prayers for the spirits of the winged.
“It pains me to see them in cages. One can understand if an exotic bird or animal is kept in captivity. It is for their safety, but the indigenous species need not be held back. It is sad. I free all birds and animals that I treat or call people from wildlife protection to take matters into their hands,” said Prince Mehra, concluding his narrative and sending out a message for the goodwill of all birds and animals.