By A Staff Reporter

Kathmandu, Apr. 12: As the fears of spread of COVID-19 continue to grow, the government has decided to extend the lockdown until April 15 in an attempt to contain the spread of novel coronavirus.
Since people are confined to their homes and all stores, hotels and restaurants are closed since March 24, stray animals, especially dogs, monkeys and birds are starving.
The animal welfare activists are constantly concerned about the adverse impact of the lockdown on stray animals and monkeys living around the valley. They are worried that the stray animals may be deprived of food and they could die if the lockdown prolongs further.
It has already been 18 days since the nation is on strict lockdown and many stray animals have had to go without food over the last two-and-a-half weeks.
According to the Federation of Animal Welfare Nepal, there are around 26,000 dogs living on the streets of Kathmandu.
The number of monkeys living inside the valley is not known, but there are hundreds of monkeys living at the World Heritage Sites, Pashupati and Swayambhu and also in Tripureshwor.
But, thanks to animal lovers and some animal welfare activists who have been willingly feeding the strays animals and carrying out rescue operations across the capital.
However, the effort of some individuals is not sufficient to ensure sustained animal welfare action in the time of this crisis. And the Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) is doing its job to ensure food for the starving animals and birds during the lockdown.
As per the decision to feed the stray animals and birds, Mayor Bidhya Sundar Shakya and Deputy-Mayor Hari Prabha Khadgi themselves led a team of KMC and visited Swaymabhu Pashupati and Bouddha areas on Saturday to feed stray dogs and monkeys.
The team also comprises of senior officials of the metropolis. The team was joined by the ward chairs of the respective areas and local representatives.
While feeding the animals, Mayor Shakya said the 43rd meeting of the Municipal Council has decided to feed the stray animals and birds in a bid to ensure their rights to live.
“The meeting of Municipal Council has also set COVID-19 related relief distribution standard-2076 and has been distributing relief to poor and daily wage earners, who are hit hard by the lockdown imposed to contain the spread of the virus,” he said.
The KMC has released extra funds of Rs. 400 thousand to the large wards, Rs. 300 thousand to the medium ones and additional amount to the smaller wards.
The city office had already released funds to the ward offices and they would use the fund for relief and associated works, said Mayor Shakya, adding, “We have instructed ward offices to feed birds and stray animals, so that no animal starve.”
Stating that the local authority has been arranging food for the stray animals in their locality, Mayor Shakya said today they reached the world heritage sites because these were the places which were crowded with stray animals, birds and monkeys.
The KMC is monitoring if the work was being done according to the decision or not, said Shakya.
“We are aware that since the people are confined indoors and all hotels and restaurants are closed many stray animals in the city are starving. So the city office decided to feed them and it is ready to add fund if needed,” he said.
He further added that to make the relief distribution transparent, the city office has directed ward offices to maintain record of relief provided to poor and needy people.
He also asked people to get united in the time of crisis and provide support from their parts.
“So far, 35,800 families of all 32 wards have been provided relief package and the office has collected details of 42,000 poor families,” said Shakya.