Karnataka forest department still without wildlife vets, raises conservation concerns: Report
Bengaluru: More than a decade after Karnataka’s Forest Department first proposed appointing dedicated wildlife veterinarians, the department is still without any, hindering conservation efforts and wildlife health management.
Home to India’s largest elephant population and the second highest number of tigers, Karnataka lacks specialised doctors who play a crucial role in rescuing injured animals, monitoring wildlife health, and collecting forensic evidence in poaching and other wildlife crime cases, as reported by Deccan Herald.
The absence of wildlife vets was first flagged over ten years ago after a spate of elephants, gaurs, leopards, and sloth bears deaths.
In response, the Forest Department drafted a vision document outlining a two-phase plan. The first phase reportedly focused on building disease surveillance systems and training veterinarians in wildlife health and behaviour. The second phase aimed to train forest staff and existing veterinarians in conflict zones, along with developing forensic and legal capabilities.
However, little progress has been made since then. A senior forest official admitted that while coordination with the police in forensic investigations has improved, wildlife disease monitoring remains neglected.
“The interaction between cattle and wildlife is higher now compared to a decade ago. We are rescuing more animals from human habitats. Herbivores are sharing grazing spaces with domestic cattle, and spillovers are highly possible. There is no surveillance or monitoring to alert us,” DH quoted the official as saying.
At present, the Forest Department relies on just five veterinarians borrowed from the Animal Husbandry Department. Earlier proposals had recommended appointing 14 wildlife veterinarians, but officials now estimate that at least 25 to 30 are required to meet the growing demands.
Acknowledging the shortage, Forest, Ecology and Environment Minister Eshwar B. Khandre said that human-wildlife interactions are intensifying due to shrinking habitats, and specialised professionals are needed to manage wildlife conservation. “I will raise the matter during a meeting chaired by the chief minister. The government is also working to address the shortage of frontline staff,” DH quoted him as saying.
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BJP to fight Assam polls on twin planks of development, secure state
Guwahati (PTI): In a bid to win the Assam Assembly elections for the third time in a row, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday advised the state BJP brass to fight on twin planks: development and a secure state.
Shah, who wound up a two-day visit to Assam, held a nearly two-hour-long meeting with senior leaders of the BJP state unit at the party headquarters here, with a focus on discussing strategy for the state elections, expected in March-April.
Briefing reporters after the closed-door meeting, BJP Assam president Dilip Saikia said, "Development and a secure Assam will be our twin electoral planks."
He also said that Shah, known for his expertise in electoral politics, has offered valuable suggestions, and based on it, an action plan to retain power in the state will be formulated soon.
“Discussions were held in detail on our organisational and political calendars. Shah ji offered some very valuable suggestions, and we will implement those at the earliest…We will share more details on the action plan soon,” Saikia said.
He further said that the Union minister exhorted the state party leadership to ensure that not only do they secure a ‘massive landslide victory’ but also bag more seats than in the previous election.
The BJP currently leads a coalition government in Assam with the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and United People's Party Liberal (UPPL), while the Bodoland People's Front (BPF) has also extended support.
In the 126-member Assembly, the BJP now has 64 legislators, while its allies AGP, UPPL and BPF have nine, seven and three memnbers, respectively. In the opposition camp, the Congress’ strength is 26, while AIUDF has 15 members and CPI(M) one. There is an Independent legislator also, belonging to Raijor Dal.
Saikia said that the party will continue to contest the state polls in coalition with its NDA allies, which was also favoured by Shah.
Dismissing reports of chinks in the ruling coalition, the Lok Sabha MP said, “As far as the NDA is concerned, we are united in Assam. There could be discussions about some issues on individual party forums.”
The saffron party has maintained that its alliance with the regional parties will continue, and formalities like seat-sharing arrangements are being worked out.
Shah, who was on his second visit to the state within a month, attended two other events in Dibrugarh and Dheamji earlier in the day. He left for West Bengal after the meeting at the Guwahati state party headquarters.
