Azam Siddiqui is a Master Trainer in Animal Welfare under the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) and has been involved in animal rights issues for the past ten years. A member of ‘People for Animals’ since 1998, he has also been working closely with PETA-India as a member and has been working on several projects with them voicing for the animals in the northeastern region of India.
In
2003, Azam was invited to the 'David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust' in
Kenya by Dr. Dame Daphne Majorie Sheldrick D.B.E M.B.S, 1992 UNEP
Global 500 Laureate, to learn from her hands on training in
'Orphaned Elephant Management'. It was a lifetime experience for Azam
to have learnt about elephants and understand more about the gentle
giants from the legendary lady and her team.
The training involved playing surrogate mother 24x7 to the
orphaned ellies along with several dedicated keepers at the
nursery of the trust in Nairobi National Park.
Part of the
training was at the 'Elephant rehabilitation Centre' in the 'Tsavo East
National Park' where he got a rare opportunity to accompany the
Wildlife Rangers of ' Kenya Wildlife Service ' on de-snaring operations
inside the Tsavo East National Park which is normally not allowed to foreigners.
It is the formula of networking with eminent experts and animal welfare organisations, that Azam has been able achieve some positive results for the destitute animals in the northeast region of India.
* 2005 : After a massive campaign got the events : elephant race, elephant mock fight,
elephant tug of war and elephant football cancelled at the prestigious
Kaziranga Centenary Celebrations in Assam.
* 2005 : Buffalo fight cancelled at Rongpur festival in Sivasagar, Assam.
* 2005 : Bull fight cancelled at Autumn festival in Umiam, Meghalaya
* 2006 : Exposed the irregularities in zoos of northeast India and Kolkata with PETA-India`s
assistance.
