Wildlife deaths shows shortage of trained veterinarians in Karnataka zoos
Davangere: Recent deaths of wild animals in zoos across Karnataka, including in Davangere, Belagavi and Mangaluru, have exposed a shortage of trained wildlife veterinarians in facilities run by the Zoo Authority of Karnataka, raising concerns over preparedness and institutional support for animal care.
A detailed report published by Deccan Herald says that across the state’s zoos, 13 veterinarian posts are sanctioned, but only two are held by Forest Department employees. Eleven positions are currently filled by officers deputed from the Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services Department or hired on contract, while posts remain vacant at Sri Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens in Mysuru and Bannerghatta Biological Park in Bengaluru.
According to the report, veterinary officers on deputation frequently lack proper wildlife treatment training. They also have had limited exposure to wild animals during their academic years. Veterinarians told DH that they are viewed as outsiders within the forest administration, which hinders coordination and field reaction.
The state government has reportedly agreed in principle to create a dedicated cadre of wildlife veterinarians, a move expected to improve morale and provide logistical support such as separate vehicles and treatment facilities. Zoo-Cum-Safari executive director Amarakshara MV told DH that there is an acute shortage of trained professionals and limited opportunities for veterinary students to gain hands-on wildlife experience. He urged colleges to extend zoo internships and strengthen training in wildlife ecology and treatment.
Shivamogga zoo veterinary officer Murali Manohar told DH that he had spent only a week in a zoo during his internship and had to rely on self-learning and field visits to understand wildlife behaviour. He also flagged delays in rescue operations due to the lack of dedicated transport for veterinarians, which can prove fatal when animals are trapped in snares.
DH further quoted Zoo Authority of Karnataka member secretary Sunil Panwar, who acknowledged the shortage of veterinary. He added that though all major zoos have veterinary officers, mini zoos consulting local veterinarians during emergencies.
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India is going to do this more and more often: Sanju Samson
New Delhi (PTI): Sanju Samson, whose exploits fuelled India's recent T20 World Cup triumph, on Sunday asserted that the country is poised to rule global cricket for years to come.
Speaking on the sidelines of the BCCI Naman Awards 2026 in the capital, Samson also likened his exploits during India's triumphal march to the title to a movie, and said it was yet to sink in.
"Not yet, I am still like, actually, when I get up in the morning I'm like 'has it really happened'. So honestly, that's the feeling," Samson said when asked about last Sunday's triumph.
He added, "But I feel that in the coming years with the quality of players we have in our country, this is going to be repeated. It's not going to be, okay, it has happened once in a while. The amount of players which are coming up and definitely India is going to do this more and more often."
Samson was named Player of the Tournament in the 2026 T20 World Cup after a historic campaign, scoring 321 runs at a strike rate of nearly 200 in just five innings to lead India to the title.
Despite not playing initially, he delivered 80-plus scores in the must-win Super Eights match against the West Indies, the semi-final against England, and in the final against New Zealand.
Samson further said he has been dreaming to help India win a World Cup.
"Absolutely, I think you can only dream where you want to go, but you can't definitely ride the path towards it. So my life or my career has been one of the best examples. I definitely wanted to do this a couple of years ago.
"I want to win a World Cup for my country, but it had its own plan, its own script. So, but more like a movie. I enjoyed it," Samson said.
The unassuming star from Kerala has been toiling for years to leave an impact on the game, and the T20 World Cup was his finest moment.
"As I said before, I wanted to do something like this, then I got pulled out of my journey, and then suddenly, the team wanted me to come and contribute, and that's when I actually mentally flipped a bit... I think, before that, in the New Zealand series, the focus was all about myself.
"But in the World Cup, the focus is all about the team. I think what does a team require. And in the Zimbabwe game, right from that moment, everyone wanted me to contribute to it. I had a role to play.
"So that's when the shift happened and the confidence that, okay, 'the team needs you, Sanju', and let's do what you can the best. So that's where everything started from.
"And then I had the experience, I was working mentally. I was working physically, so I knew that I'm ready, and I knew that this is meant for me, so I just had to do what I know best.
"So, I've been playing this format for a very long time and then it was just about planning and going out there and executing it," Samson said.
Pacer Mohammed Siraj described the triumph as a "miracle" from a personal point of view as he was not even part of the initial squad for the tournament and was included only as a replacement for an injured Harshit Rana.
"I was not in the initial squad, then I got it, played a game, and now I have been part of two World Cup-winning squads. I would say it's a miracle for me," Siraj said.
