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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Two girls injured in separate wolf attacks in UP's Bahraich
Bahraich (UP) (PTI): Two minor girls were injured in separate incidents of wolf attacks in the Bahraich district, forest department officials said on Saturday.
In the first incident on Friday, Anushka Nishad (5), daughter of Baliram from Mallahanpurwa village, was sleeping alone inside her house when a wolf entered and tried to carry her away, they said.
Hearing her screams, family members and villagers rushed to the spot. The wolf left the child, hearing the commotion, and ran towards the fields. The girl sustained minor injuries from the animal's teeth, the officials said.
Divisional Forest Officer Ram Singh Yadav described the attack as deliberate and cleverly planned, as it occurred precisely when Anushka's mother went out for a few moments.
On the same day, Nancy (4), daughter of Kamlesh Yadav, was playing outside her house in Baburi Tola village when a wolf suddenly attacked and dragged her away.
Villagers raised an alarm, and the wolf released the child and ran towards the sugarcane fields. The injured child was sent to the Kaiserganj Community Health Centre for treatment.
Divisional Forest Officer Ram Singh Yadav told reporters that both attacks involved wolves, adding that the entire area is plagued by the animal's activity.
Since September 9, such attacks in the Bahraich district have claimed 10 lives, including eight children and an elderly couple, and injured dozens of people, the officials said.
District Magistrate Akshay Tripathi met the families of the victims on Friday and consoled them.
