I would like to share an incident that took place about a month ago.
As the founder of Friends of Animals Dubai, I receive e-mails and calls almost every day pertaining to pets, but they are usually about farm animals — just the odd horse here and there.
But one recent afternoon, a caller reported a paralysed baboon that was kept in a bird's cage in a veterinarian's clinic at the Sharjah Animal Market — it immediately caught my attention.
The caller told me several stories about the animal — perhaps he had cancer or he suffered from a rare disease that had crippled him. I immediately made my way to Sharjah.
On the way, I spoke to the vet who claimed to be treating the monkey for certain illnesses. I was able to persuade him that a wildlife expert who had the right medical equipment would be the right person to help the poor animal and he said he would allow me to take the baboon away.
A different world
As an animal lover, the animal market has always been a no-entry zone for me, and even though I have been curious, I have never had the strength to visit the place. That evening, I had no choice. I could not stop thinking of the sad baboon inside the cold cage.
When I reached the place, it was as if I had travelled back in time! Women were walking around with African grey parrots hanging onto their clothes, Persian cats were being carried around like handbags without proper carriers — as is legally required.
While waiting for the doctor, I heard a strange sound and then saw the little Hamadryas baboon. He was lying immobile. I saw no water or food — just a cold, metal cage.
He tried to move but only succeeded in turning his head from side to side and managed a weak push with his rear legs. Then he began screaming and I realised that he was in terrible pain.
His inconsolable shrieking lasted from the animal market to the Breeding Centre for Endangered Arabian Wildlife in Sharjah where we took him.
I realised how serious the poor primate's condition was and didn't expect a miracle, but wanted to spare him from decomposing alive in an empty cage.
The next morning, we had the results. The baboon was suffering from a dislocated shoulder, most likely causing him the painful body paralysis. A pellet was also found under his right arm when his x-rays were taken.
He also had some marks around the neck perhaps caused by a dog. He had been in pain for quite a long time. The animal was finally euthanised.
The reader is the founder of Friends of Animals group in Dubai
