Snuggle up with Inca Cat

Dr. Krishanthi Rondon Fuentes is a former senior staff member of UNESCO and UNICEF with expertise in the sustainable development agenda. Her assignments with these organizations were based in New York, Paris, Amman, Hanoi, Malabo, Monrovia and Abidjan. She started writing children’s books in 2016. To date, she has written eight children’s books in the Inca Cat Detective Series that have been translated into Sinhala, French, Spanish, German and Chinese with the Russian and Tamil language versions to be released soon. With her children’s books, she hopes to encourage children to love and respect animals and understand different cultures as each book is based in a new country. For example, the characters in the series visit Colombo, Paris, Provence, London, Transylvania, Seoul, Moscow and Saint Petersburg. She was recently nominated as Advisor and Member of the Management Board, UNESCO’s Staff Savings and Loan Bank (SEPU). She shared her ideas with Daily News pet page.

Having worked in the United Nations, what made you take to writing children’s books?

I have always enjoyed reading. Even as a child, my favorite pastime was reading. In addition, animals have always been a part of my life. I can’t remember a time when I didn’t own a cat or a dog. While working for UNESCO Paris, I had the urge to write for children, mainly to encourage them to appreciate animals, to consider animals as living breathing beings with thoughts and feelings. I also learned about the benefits reaped by children growing up with animals. So, what better way to encourage children to love and appreciate animals than by reading adventure stories about animals.

Did your experiences there in any way influence your decision to take to writing?

My career as an international civil servant started at UNICEF headquarters in New York. Hence, children’s issues have always been in the forefront of my mind. My love of animals and educating young minds to protect and respect animals was a natural milieu when I started writing children’s books.

Who or what inspires you when writing?

The intelligence of cats has always fascinated me. Especially Inca, a Siberian kitten I had the good fortune to acquire while in Paris. Cats are independent and intelligent. Watching Inca and Cara, a blue-eyed Siamese I had brought in as a companion for Inca made me imagine the cat detective series. Not to neglect dogs, there are some smart and brave detective dogs also participating in the series.

Do you think that children today devote less time to reading books and more to electronic gadgetry?

Unfortunately, television and mobile phones have reduced reading both by adults and children. However, many enlightened parents realize the opportunities that can be reaped by children reading. Sri Lanka has benefited from a high literacy rate over the decades and the popularity of book fairs in Sri Lanka and the crowds that throng such venues is a strong indication that Sri Lankans by large do appreciate books.

As the proceeds from the sale of your books will go towards animal welfare, can you tell us what sparked this decision?

I believe Sri Lanka, like many other countries, both developed and developing need to protect and care for its animal population. Since returning to Sri Lanka, I realized that there’s a greater need for not only educating people about animal welfare but also supporting whenever I can street animals in need of care.

How many pets of your own do you have?

I now have six cats and 72 dogs in the refuge that has been created. All the dogs in the refuge have become our pets. The dogs that we have rescued are adorable. Neither cats nor dogs have to be pedigree to be lovable.

What needs to be done to instill the love of animals in Sri Lanka where both domestic pets and wildlife are increasingly abused?

Education of the general public is key. Teaching by example is also relevant. It would be a dream if the Government would support animal welfare associations, not so much with funds but by policy. Strong laws against cruelty and abuse of animals should be vigilantly promulgated.

What are your personal plans to further animal welfare in Sri Lanka?

I would like to encourage more sterilization programs and also education programs about the need to care for animals.

Do you have plans to write more books and if so will they be for children or adults?

I hope to continue the Inca Cat Detective series. Each book in the series focuses on a different geographical location and a different culture with the aim to broaden the horizons of children. So far, the books have been based in Paris, London, Provence, Transylvania and in Sri Lanka and in North and South Korea. Hopefully, the next will be based in Moscow and Saint Petersburg.