Pune, January 04: IN each cage, there is a story - of trauma, rescue and recovery. At the Uttara’s Animal Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre (ARRC), Katraj, popularly known as the orphanage, the animals, birds and reptiles who share space have a tale to tell. Like the old bear rescued from a madari or the kite recuperating from hitting against a high tension electrical wire.

‘‘Patients here need care and a quiet environment to recover,’’ says Neelimkumar Khaire, director. With about 280 animals, birds and reptiles in the centre at any given point of time, the inmates require sustained care. A tawny eagle with a fractured wing, a black buck with a bent antler, an old lion-tailed macaque, leopards - they all find a home at ARRC.

The centre has two ambulances, hospital equipment and the follow up treatment to help put them on the road to recovery. ‘‘The animals are rescued - various NGOs or the forest department reports the animals to us - and depending on their condition they are treated. After they have recovered they are freed into the wild.’’ he says. Not all though are in a position to be released. Like the 30 laboratory monkeys from the National Institute of Virology or hand-reared leopards or the bear.

One needs to be sensitive to the peculiar needs of the animal. For instance when a yellow-beaked Toco Toucan who lost his mate and was brought to the centre, to help it cope with the shock, a mirror was put in the cage so that it did not feel alone. Most calls for rescue are for kites, snakes, civets and barn owls, says Khaire. And thereby hangs many a tale.

Readers are requested to contact the centre on 24370747 to inform of an injured animal, to help with funds or offer their services.