Help rescue wild animals and birds in India

Hello Friend,

Hope the monsoons are treating you well. This month, we bring to you an update from Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary in Kerala.

The landscape around Wayanad wildlife sanctuary forms a contiguous green stretch of Protected areas like Nagarhole and Bandipur Tiger Reserves of Karnataka in the north-east and Mudumalai Tiger Reserve in the south-east. This dense moist deciduous and semi evergreen forest act as a perfect habitat to over 45 species of mammals, 203 sp. of birds and 45 species of reptiles like Elephants, Gaur, Tiger etc. to name a few.

With several villages located close to the Wayanad Wildlife sanctuary, the advent of animals straying out of forests is a common phenomenon. In 2015, alone lone tigers were sighted in human areas 18 times and livestock depredation peaked. When the frequency of tigers, solitary animals is high in the landscape one can imagine the number of herbivores and small mammals venturing out into human habitations. Wildlife rescue and rehabilitation is one of key components We at Wildlife Trust of India focus on. We have seven Mobile Veterinary service vehicles spread across the states Assam, Arunachal & Odisha and a Centres for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. We help rescue, treat and rehabilitate a number of species ranging from elephants, rhinoceros, tigers, leopards to also smaller species like birds and reptiles. To expand our reach and expertise in other states, we engage with capable grassroot organisations, who help carry out similar rescue and rehabilitation initiatives in their respective regions.

This month with the help of the support of Global Giving, WTI extended a helping hand to Kerala veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Pookode located close to Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary by providing a Mobile Veterinary Service vehicle to attend to injured animals and safely release them back to nature. In the past few months, a wide range of animals, birds and snakes have been rescued and treated by a team of veterinarians from the University. Few deadly and docile snakes like Indian Spectacled cobra (Naja naja), Indian Rock Python (Python molurus), Montane Trinket snake (Coelognathus Helena monticollaris), Indian Rat Snake (Ptyas mucosa), Russel’s kukri (Oligodon toeniolatus) juvenile etc. had entered residential houses and had to be rescued. The team along with the forest department ensured they were all released back into the forests.  The team found three Vernal Hanging Parrot (Loriculus vernalis) hatchlings that had fallen from their nest abandoned, they were taken under care until released. Another interesting case was when the team found an orphaned Malabar Giant squirrel (Ratufa indica) baby, the vets checked for injuries and took care of the little one till it was able to fend for itself. The team have also rescued an Indian Jackal (Canis aureus) with an injured forelimb and ulcer in the eye, the animal is currently responding well to treatment and will be released back into its habitat.

In May, a case which grabbed media’s attention was when elephants had entered a coffee plantation. The forest department requested the team for veterinary assistance to monitor the health of a newly born wild elephant calf that had entered the plantation with the herd. The calf appeared healthy but was unsteady, trying to balance itself and learning to stand on its feet. To ensure its welfare, the team kept a close watch on the calf from a distance and ensured the young one was safe and healthy till the herd moved away. The team is actively keeping a look out in the landscape and attending to rescue calls, to make sure the animals of Wayanad are safe and remain forever wild.

It is because if your support that we are being able to carry out such activities. We at WTI thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

Best,

Team WTI

Hello Supporter,

Wildlife Trust of India wishes you all a very Happy Easter. This Easter, we bring to you, not the bunny, but an update from his aquatic friends. We thank you all for being our constant support.

Indian fisheries and aquaculture are an important source of livelihood and nutrition for communities residing along the coastline of India. The Indian Fishery industry is ranked #3 globally and more than 50 different types of fish and shellfish products, accounting to 0.6 million tonnes are known to be exported to 75 countries. To match the growing demand, several fishing trawlers and boats scour the Indian waters to get hold off sizeable fish stock. Trawlers especially are considered a boon for the economy but, it has a flipside to it. While scouting the waters for fish, trawler nets trap thousands of unintended juvenile fish and other marine species, collectively called ‘bycatch’. Studies have established almost 60% of total biomass brought in by trawlers are considered redundant as they constitute juvenile catch and bring in very little revenue. Often even marine megafauna like whale sharks, dolphins, turtles etc. which are protected under India’s Wildlife Protection Act (WPA) 1972 also get trapped in such nets. The lack of knowledge amongst the fisher folk leads to the species death and illegal trade of their accidental catch. Such recurring loss of juvenile fish and apex predators shall eventually lead to an imbalance in the food chain and serious damage to our marine biodiversity.

One such key species is the Olive ridley turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea) the smallest and most common amongst sea turtles found across Indian waters. Though found in abundance their numbers have been rapidly declining and are today categorized ‘Vulnerable’ as per the IUCN Red list and Schedule I species under the WPA,1972. Mainly at the time of mating or mass nesting season which is otherwise called Arribada, (where females congregate together on the same beach to lay eggs) Olive ridley turtles face danger during their onward journey to the shore. Several accidental deaths by entanglement in trawl nets and gill nets are observed during this period. To address this issue of marine megafauna like Turtles and Whale sharks getting trapped as bycatch, Wildlife Trust of India has initiated a project with the fishing community of Sindhudurg and Ratnagiri districts of Maharashtra where maximum encounters have been lately recorded. WTI along with the concerned stakeholders are trying to ensure timely release of any trapped species and introduction of ex-gratia schemes to compensate damaged nets.

 Last month, a fisherman from the Sindhudurg fishing community network encountered an Olive ridley turtle trapped in his gill net. He carefully removed the turtle out of the net and released it back into the waters. Similar rescue operations in November 2018, where a 30ft long whale shark was released by a Palghar fishermen (by cutting the net) has given much recognition to release trapped protected species and the need for ex-gratia schemes in the state. Since then the fishermen have been enthusiastically documenting rescue operations and providing this as evidence to the FD, to get eligible for compensation of their damaged nets. We would like to appreciate this commendable effort of artisanal fisherman to voluntarily release protected species back into the wild and hope to motivate them more in this noble act with your kind support.