Saleem Hameed is one of the rare breed of URBAN WILDLIFE REHABILITATORS crusading tirelessly to increase awareness among the general public of the damage we inadvertently do to the animals and birds we share space with. He has single handedly rescued, rehabilitated and released thousands of injured and abandoned small wildlife back into their habitats in the past 25 years. Apart from being a dedicated rehabilitator, he is an established wildlife photographer, exceptional nature illustrator and environmentalist who has done tremendous work to restore natural order and nurture native species of plants and trees.
It is rare to find qualified people to care for injured or abandoned wildlife. This was what provoked Saleem, who was an advertising photographer to take up wildlife rehabilitation in Bangalore – a city that was growing in an unprecedented manner and causing irreparable damage to the fragile ecosystem. With no institutes to train him, he had to teach himself through books, his sister who is a doctor and wildlife veterinary / rehabilitator friends visiting India who were taken up by his passion to make a difference.
He is an expert on treating birds, reptiles and small mammals. One of the job hazards in this field is being attacked by frightened animals in pain, who are ready to strike at any sign of capture or threat - Saleemhas been bitten more than four times by injured venomous snakes he has treated, but he considers it part of the job and the attack as a natural response deserving sympathy and kindness. Once, he was bitten while caring for a cobra which was badly burnt and he even died for several seconds after being, before doctors could revive him.
He is an expert on treating birds, reptiles and small mammals. One of the job hazards in this field is being attacked by frightened animals in pain, who are ready to strike at any sign of capture or threat - Saleemhas been bitten more than four times by injured venomous snakes he has treated, but he considers it part of the job and the attack as a natural response deserving sympathy and kindness. Once, he was bitten while caring for a cobra which was badly burnt and he even died for several seconds after being, before doctors could revive him.
Saleem helped set up the first ever wildlife rehabilitation centre in Bangalore called ‘Save our Wild Life (SoWL)’, run by People for animals and then the ‘Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre’ (WRRC) at Bannerghatta run by Compassion Unlimited Plus Action. These centres helped people with some passion and concern for wildlife to volunteer. This had a very positive effect as it inspired groups of youth in Bangalore to take up a career in the field of ecology or wildlife but more than that created awareness among many Bangaloreans to value the wildlife in their backyard.
Saleem’s work with wildlife is not only restricted to Bangalore but whenever there is a call to save animals he is there. In Veerapura (Andhra Pradesh), he rehabilitates fallen Painted stork chicks at a large nesting colony and trains villagers to handle and take care of them. The Bangalore city Corporation depends solely on him to rehabilitate animals injured by the advancing city or by the rapid increase in trade in animals. Many like the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) call him regularly to conduct workshops and train their staff at various rehabilitation centres.
Saleem does all this work without any financial aid from the Government. He raises funds from his photography assignments, illustrations or with the help of friends and family.
Saleem is also an excellent birdwatcher and is very committed to details in identification of a species for which he is often invited to help out with bird surveys.
