Kathmandu, February 8

Under the scorching sun during summer and dry winter, many birds and animals in the cities desperately look for water sources to quench their thirst, but they get none. To address the water woes of these birds and animals, some animal right activists and youths have taken initiative to manage water pots at more than 200 spots in Kathmandu valley.

Jal, a city-based animal welfare environmental project, has in the past nine months installed water pots on the utility poles in Maharajgunj, Lainchaur, Sanepa, Lagankhel, Kumari Pati and Bhatbheteni area. These water pots provide drinking water to stray animals (especially dogs) and urban birds.

According to Pema Chhewang Sherpa of the Everest Awakening, Jal has installed several water pots in Kathmandu ensuring that these voiceless animals don’t get dehydrated.

The initiative has ensured that several stray animals roaming in the vicinity in search for water, come and quench their thirst.

“As they are thirsty, hundreds of stray animals die due to the scorching heat and lack of access to clean drinking water,” Sherpa, who along with Jesse Paris Smith from Everest Awakening supported the project, said.

“Our project provides drinking water for stray animals like dogs, cats, cows etc at various nooks and corners across the city,” she added.

Kathmandu-based artist Samir Hamal, who is coordinating the Jal project, shared that the unique water pots help all street animals and birds to quench their thirst.

Sherpa and Hamal requested the Kathmandu residents to come forward and help the street animals. “Reduce, reuse, and recycle the plastic bottles has been a national mantra for decades,” they said, adding, “It would be a noble effort to raise the collective carbon footprint awareness.”

The project also focused on creating a sustainable recycling system and working with locals to aware them about the impact of global climate crisis, Sherpa shared.