Mumbai: He has not yet started attending kindergarten, but this three-year-old is already a certified animal activist, thanks to his love for birds and animals.

Hitesh Yadav from Tulsipada in Bhandup (W) has become the youngest member and volunteer for Plant & Animals Welfare Society (PAWS), after he recently rescued two baby sparrows that had fallen from their nest. The baby birds were dehydrated due to the heat.

“Two days ago, I was surprised to see Hitesh holding two baby sparrows in his hands. He told me that they had fallen from their nest, and a cat was trying to grab them,” said Hitesh’s mother Nirjala Yadav.

She called up Nisha Subramaniam of PAWS, who put the rescued fledglings at a sparrow shelter in Bhandup. The founder and secretary of PAWS-Mumbai, Sunish Subramaniam, said, “I am happy to make Hitesh a member of PAWS, as he is interested in animal rescue.”

Subramaniam added that two weeks earlier, Hitesh had noticed a barn owl in distress near his home; it was disoriented due to dehydration in the summer heat. He had immediately brought it to the mother’s notice.

“Hitesh now spends a lot of time at our office in Bhandup, looking at rescued animals like snakes, kites, cats and others,” said Subramaniam.

In the current hot weather, PAWS-Mumbai has rescued seven kites, 15 pigeons and 15 snakes, which were suffering from heat stroke or dehydration.

REACH OUT TO ANIMALS IN DISTRESS

• If you notice any bird or animal in distress, call PAWS-Mumbai on 9833480388; or email sunish 9833480388@gmail.com
• If you find an animal suffering from heat stroke, gently pick it up with a wet cloth, and place it in a cardboard box with holes for ventilation, before calling an animal rescue NGO
• Place water bowls in your area for birds and animals