Mobile Veterinary Service launched at Bandipur to treat injured wild animals

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Brunda Malhotra of Aircel is seen handing over the keys of the Mobile Veterinary Service vehicle to H.C. Kantharaju, Conservator of Forests, Bandipur, yesterday as others look on.
Brunda Malhotra of Aircel is seen handing over the keys of the Mobile Veterinary Service vehicle to H.C. Kantharaju, Conservator of Forests, Bandipur, yesterday as others look on.

Chamarajanagar :

In what could be said as the first ever in the State, a Mobile Veterinary Service (MVS), to treat injured wild animals, was launched at Bandipur Tiger Reserve (BTR) yesterday.

Wildlife Trust of India (WTI), in collaboration with the Forest Department and Aircel, launched the service for the first time in Karnataka to facilitate the rescue of wild animals and respond to all wildlife emergencies.

A vehicle to carry out the service was handed over to Conservator of Forests and Bandipur Project Tiger Director, H.C. Kantharaju, by WTI Zonal Head Jose Louis and Brunda Malhotra of Aircel.

Kantharaju, speaking on the occasion, said: “In the past couple of years, there have been instances of large carnivores venturing out of the forests into human habitations which has resulted in human and animal deaths. With an MVS like this, we can immediately tend to these animals and put them back into the wild or provide necessary treatment, if needed.”

The mobile unit will have a trained veterinarian, two wildlife conservation staff and a driver, who would respond at any time for any emergency reported from the region, Kantharaju added.

BTR is surrounded by close to 200 villages with a population of more than three lakh inhabiting these villages and over two lakh cattle. These areas surrounding Bandipur have witnessed frequent occurrences of conflict with tigers, leopards and elephants. In addition, the spurt in poaching activities and use of snares in Bandipur over the past few years have had authorities and conservationists on their toes.

The unit would be based at Special Tiger Protection Force (STPF) camp at Melkhamanahalli and will be operational 24×7 and villagers can call Ph: 08229-236043 or Mob: 87621-11704 in case of an animal emergency.

Meanwhile, WTI Zonal Head Jose Louis said that the vehicle, apart from responding to emergencies in Bandipur limits, will also provide service in Biligiri Ranganatha Temple (BRT) Wildlife Reserve, Nagarahole, Malai Mahadeshwara Wildlife Reserve and would also provide services in Mudumalai Forest in Tamil Nadu and Waynad Forest Reserve in Kerala.

DCF Keshavamurthy, Wildlife Warden D. Rajkumar and others were present

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News / January 10th, 2015

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