Help rescue wild animals and birds in India

India has a rich biodiversity which is threatened by innumerable emergencies ranging from natural calamities like floods, forest fires, cyclone or disease epidemics, to anthropogenic pressures like unplanned infrastructural development, poaching and hunting or those caused by new policies that threaten the natural world.  Many animals are killed and injured in, forest fires, floods and other catastrophes every year. The destruction of land and natural habitats affects the food chain because many species are unable to hunt. Amidst panic and chaos, animals are sometimes considered as the forgotten victims of disaster. Apart from natural disasters, human interventions, conflict between wildlife also seeks attention of a rescuer/veterinarian. Veterinarians not only attend to such wildlife emergencies but also alleviate stress and improve welfare aspects of the displaced wildlife. To address such issues, and giving considering the importance of a  veterinarian in rescue, our MVS (Mobile Veterinary Service) is placed at Similipal TR which functions 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. MVS is aiding such emergency relief and veterinary care to wildlife displaced due to natural and man-made causes.

In the last quarter, the MVS placed at Similipal TR attended about 14 cases of rescue which included different species of snakes (Russells Viper, spectacled cobra, rat snake), birds (parakeet, yellow footed green pigeon, spotted owlet) and mammal (Gray langur). STR and MVS Rescue team rescued one Rat snake with its eggs from a house in Baripada. As the eggs of the snake were around 15 days old, MVS team incubated the eggs with the rescued snake by providing artificial brooding in a box. In another case, an unidentified snake was found to be stuck in 30 foot deep well in Baripara division of Similipal tiger reserve. The MVS team rushed to the location with all the necessary gears to rescue the snake. Since the region has king cobras and other venomous snakes, the team decided to identify the snake first. After several attempts, the snake’s reflection on water disclosed its identification and it was found to be Russell’s viper which is among the most dangerous snakes in Asia, accounting for thousands of deaths each year. The rescue team lowered a rope ladder into the well and one of the team members, having donned a life jacket, clambered down. As he reached near the water, the viper attached itself to the wall; using a smooth-floored tong to hold it, he secured the snake in the loop of a dog catcher attached to a long rope, which was used to pull it up out of the well.  The snake was successfully rescued and released back to the wild after a examining its health. 

Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR), located in the northern part of Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district, is home to the highest number of tigers in the state apart from over 54 other species of mammals, 304 species of birds, 60 species of reptiles, 21 species of frogs, 38 species of fish, etc. The 1WTI’s Mobile Veterinary Service (MVS) unit is manned by a trained veterinarian and an animal keeper,. The MVS helps in swiftly responding to wildlife emergencies due to natural and man-made calamities.  It helps in rehabilitation of wild animals, including orphans, displaced due to various reasons and also assists the Forest Department in conflict animal management. MVS also provide its support during disease investigations during sporadic deaths and epidemics.

For the first time, the state of Odisha has a dedicated mobile unit. 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 MVS unit in Similipal had attended to a total of 114 cases of wildlife displacements belonging to several species of mammal (Asian elephant, grey mongoose, hanuman langur, Indian giant flying squirrel)   birds (crested serpent eagle, coppersmith barbet) and reptiles (Russell’s viper, spectacled cobra, common sand boa, Indian rock python, checkered keelback) in this year. Out of these 93 cases, 70 cases (75.26%) were released back to the wild thus meeting the main impact of the project.

Similarly, MVS unit stationed at the Bandipur Tiger Reserve (BTR) campus is helping in mitigating wildlife conflicts and rescues & rehabilitation of wild animals in the landscape. During the month of November, one baby calf of elephant was found abandoned near K.Gudi Range in B.R.Tiger Reserve. The MVS was called in to assist with the case as the calf was found in a debilitated and emaciated state. The calf was treated for several small wounds and a generalized systemic infection. After proper recovery of the calf and recommendation by the MVS veterinarian, it was shifted to Mysore Zoo.  A soft shelled turtle found in car showroom on the Mysore-Gudalur Highway near Bandipur was also brought to Mysore and handed over to the Forest officials. There were several injuries on the shell of the turtle. The MVS Veterinarian cleaned the turtle and treated the wounds following which the Forest Department officials released into a lake in Mysore.