Voices Unheard: TACO's Journey of Compassion and Sustainability

A.A. Milne, through his fictional character Winnie the Pooh, said, “Some people talk to animals, not many listen though, that is the problem”. Many think that animal communication is all about talking to animals with their cheerful, high-pitched tones. But, animals have a voice of their own. A voice that goes far beyond words. They can share a world of emotions with their silent gazes, gentle nudges and wagging tails. Emotions that often go unnoticed in the silent wait for someone to listen.

Even humans often keep the most heartfelt emotions unspoken, despite our gift of speech. It takes a special kind of heart to observe and hear what is not said.

Children who grow up with pets are often gifted with this kind of heart. They learn not only to respect their furry friends but also to understand and value the feelings around them. They learn that loyalty isn’t just a concept – it is manifested in the dog who waits for him at the door or the cat offering warmth when they are feeling low. They also learn that love can also come in four legs, wagging tails, and the soothing melody of a contented purr.

Unfortunately, not all animals get the love and affection they deserve. Many fall victim to the world’s indifferences. Some get injured in road accidents and others are left to suffer from untreated diseases. There are instances of animals ending up in the hands of humans who abuse them too.

That is where TACO steps in. Priya Agarwal Hebbar, Non-Executive Director, Vedanta, and Chairperson, Hindustan Zinc Ltd started the ‘The Animal Care Organization’ (TACO) because of her love for animals. A vast establishment on the outskirts of Faridabad, it houses a veterinary hospital, an Animal Birth Control (ABC) unit, and a Mobile Health Van (MHV) capable of performing surgery on the spot, besides other dedicated spaces for big and small animals.    

Animal welfare has always been a passion for Priya. She established TACO under the Anil Agarwal Foundation, the social impact arm of Vedanta, to tackle some of the most pressing challenges in animal welfare. She states, “According to the 20th livestock census, India has 50.22 lakh stray cattle and 200 lakh stray dogs, many of who are deprived of basic welfare services.” Guided by the ‘One Health Principle’, TACO bridges the gaps such as shortage of skilled professionals through state-of-the-art facilities, veterinary care, wildlife conservation, and community engagement.

TACO works with all kinds of birds and animals. Cows, sheep, buffalo, goats, dogs and cats are regular residents but they also provide refuge and care to nilgais, rabbits, horses and even a majestic peacock.

Priya has been a strong advocate of making this shelter as sustainable as possible. Dr Princy John, head of strategy and operations for TACO's animal welfare projects, explained that the two-acre shelter is part of a sprawling seven-acre site that uses the remaining piece of land to cultivate fresh green fodder. This allows them to sustainably feed the 150+ animals under its care.

A key sustainability feature is the in-house biogas plant, capable of producing 50 cubic metres of biogas daily. The dung collected at the shelter is processed through four biodigesters, generating biogas to meet all its cooking needs. Post-biogas production, the slurry can be utilized in two ways: as manure in the fields directly, or as input for vermicompost production. Using an SLS (solid-liquid separator) machine, the water is extracted from the slurry for reuse in the biodigestion process, while the dry residue serves as an excellent organic fertilizer. The reuse of water from the slurry helps minimise the overall water consumption at the shelter.

Another step towards sustainability is TACO’s 160-kilowatt solar power plant. The shelter, along with the hospital and ABC unit is fully powered by solar energy. “We don’t own plant earth, we belong to it. And we must learn to share it with all living beings” – Steve Irwin.