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