Help rescue wild animals and birds in India

The Bandipur National Park is situated at the confluence of Western and Eastern Ghats in Karnataka in Southern India, serving as a central link in the seasonal migration of Elephants from Mudumalai National Park and Satyamangalam Forest Division in the east and south east to Nagarahole National Park and Wynad Sanctuary in the west and North West. The Park is a significant component of the 5500 sq.km ‘Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve’ which is one of the largest conservation areas in India. A large population of elephants is found here along with seven large ungulate species and three large predatory carnivores – tigers, leopards and dholes.

 For the first time, Bandipur Tiger Reserve will have a dedicated mobile unit manned by trained veterinarian and caretaker to attend to wildlife emergencies reported from the region. The main objective of the MVS unit is to return every displaced animal to the wild while following the IUCN guidelines on translocation and placement of confiscated animals. The unit will be served by a small field station that will have basic facilities to accommodate temporarily displaced animals till their release. Non-releasable animals will be sent to zoos for lifetime care and breeding. The unit by its presence in the area will also help to create awareness drives amongst the local villagers on how to deal with and respond to different conflict scenarios.

The MVS clinics function under the concept that animals estranged from their natural habitat, either due to human interference or by accident, must be given every chance to return to their natural habitat. The major methods of operation of the MVS unit in a project area are:

1. Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation

2. Human-Wildlife conflict mitigation

3. Immunization of livestock around protected areas

4. Captive elephant care

5. Disease investigation, surveillance and control

Here is a summary of some of the cases attended to by our MVS team.

The MVS unit attended to a total of 17 cases of displaced wildlife belonging to 12 species during the reporting period. This includes nine cases of mammals (5 species), and 7 cases of birds (6 species) including rose ringed parakeets, bonnet macaque and an elephant calf.

Necropsy’s to determine the cause of death of wild animals:

The MVS unit started operating even before the official launch and was contacted for conducting a necropsy on an elephant calf that had presumably killed by a tiger barely 1 km from the main Bandipur Tiger Reserve gate. The patrolling staff and Special Tiger Protection Force (STPF) had seen the calf on a hillock but couldn’t approach it as the herd was nearby. They informed the MVS unit which immediately left for the location. However, they couldn’t locate the carcass and could notice blood and drag marks indicating the predator had pulled the carcass uphill into the nearby bush. As it was already late in the night and with the possibility of the cat being nearby, the team decided to come again in the morning and check the carcass. The team upon reaching next day early morning saw the remnants of a 3-4 month only elephant calf about 100 m away from the original site. The calf had been complete eviscerated and all the organs had been consumed. The body had started decomposing, but the neck had the characteristic marks of a big cat kill. No necropsy was conducted as the cause of death was obvious and the team left the area after ensuring that the carcass was incinerated.

In addition to this, the forest department requested the MVS veterinarian to assist the Forest Department veterinarian to conduct necropsy on animals that died in the wild. This included one case of leopard and one adult male elephant (tusker). On 16^th September, the MVS veterinarian along with the Forest Department Veterinarian conducted a necropsy on a young male leopard in the Kundkere Range of Bandipur Tiger Reserve. The observations from the post-mortem suggest that the leopard died of unnatural causes and possibilities included poisoning. However poisoning need to confirmed following a forensic toxicological examination of the collected samples of viscera.

On 26^th September, the MVS Vet was again requested to assist the FD veterinarian in conducting a necropsy on an adult male tusker that was found dead in the core area of Bandipur Tiger Reserve. When the team reached, they realised that the tusker had died a couple of days back and next to a waterhole. On examination the team found two bullets below the ear and rib cage (figure 4). The bullet was removed and sent for forensic examination, as the team speculated that poachers had shot down the elephant for its tusks. Examination of internal organs could not be performed as it had decomposed. The team was asked to remove the tusks and submit the same to the forest department and incinerate the elephant.  

Domestic animals and livestock:

In addition to wild animals, the MVS unit responded to several call outs regarding problems with domestic animals, especially dogs. Similar calls came from Kundkere range area in regards to rabid dogs that had been terrorizing local villagers. Two dogs were euthanized when they were found showing signs of rabies, another dog was found dead on arrival and was suspected of having died from rabies. Seeing the need for a vaccination campaign the MVS veterinarian assisted a local NGO with the vaccination of several dogs in the vicinity of Kundkere Range. No new cases of rabies have been reported but locals have been instructed to keep an eye out for any suspicious behavior in their dogs that may indicate rabies. The MVS Team was, however alerted in September to a single adult dog that had died in the first week of September, which was suspected to be due to rabies as it had been bitten by another dog a week previously. In one case, parvoviral enteritis was seen in three puppies in the Khaninpura Colony. Fluids and antibiotics were administered, however all three puppies died as treatment was not continued by the owners. Both Parvoviral enteritis and rabies have been shown to have significant decimating effects on wild canid and feline species. It is therefore just as important to vaccinate dogs against the disease.

                The MVS veterinarian was also called to provide treatment for several cases of livestock that had been attacked and injured by wild animals, especially leopards in in the Kundkere, Hediyala and N.Begur Ranges (figure 5).There was also a few cases where tigers had injured cattle after unsuccessful predation attempts. Deworming was carried out in a few animals in the vicinity of the field station and first aid was administered to a cow which had been struck by a speeding car. MVS team assisted Forest Department personnel in the confiscation of several cattle and buffaloes that were being smuggled across the border, late in the night, through the N.Begur/Gundre Ranges into Kerala. The livestock were rounded up and brought to an anti-poaching camp for the rest of the night. They were treated for small wounds and injuries and then transported by truck to a Gowshala outside Mysore.

The MVS vet has also been attending to ‘Rana’ the new wildlife sniffer dog at the park. Rana receives regular consultations and checkups to ensure he is at the top form to carry out his demanding job.

Rescue of Elephant Calf and Captive Elephant care:

The MVS unit attended to a case of elephant calf that had fallen in a trench. The Forest Department had managed to pull the elephant calf out and along with the MVS team, tried to reunite the calf, but it failed. So it was decided that elephant calf be shifted to the captive elephant camp at Bandipur, where the MVS Veterinarian can assist the department in management of the calf. Unfortunately, the calf died in the camp a month later, following a long period of inappetence, diarrhea and general poor body condition. The veterinarian conducted the necropsy, and determined the cause of death to be colic and intestinal herniation.

In addition to providing assistance in managing the elephant calf at the camp, the vet also treated a few elephants, which included a case of papillomatous warts on the trunk of young elephants, diarrhea in an adult elephant, at Rampura camp. In addition, several elephants have been transferred to Mysore from Bandipur as well as other National Parks around the State for the annual Dussehra celebrations. The elephants are healthy are now being supervised by the Forest Department Veterinarian within the Mysore Palace premises. In the absence of the adult elephants, the MVS unit was also tending to a calf, “Naina” who was born in captivity. The resident captive tusker “Jayaprakash” in the Bandipur Tiger Reserve was also signs of entering ‘Musth’. The MVS veterinarian was observing him closely and he will be properly supervised by the Forest Department personnel through the entire Musth period.

Links:

• Article in the business standard about the MVS