Help rescue wild animals and birds in India

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.