Keralam Forest department is partnering with Vantara, the animal rescue, rehabilitation, and conservation project in Gujarat, supported by the Reliance Foundation, to improve veterinary care and wildlife rehabilitation in the State.
The Jamnagar-based centre will soon provide two modern animal ambulances to Keralam: a large one for transporting big animals, such as elephants, priced around ₹85 lakh, and a mid-sized one worth around ₹45 lakh. The vehicles will be brought to Keralam after completing their registration, sources said.
Currently, Keralam does not have any proper animal ambulances to transfer larger animals like elephants. Makeshift vehicle ambulances, which are made by modifying hired lorries, are used for shifting elephants. The proposed vehicle would help the department in transporting large animals, officials said.
Four forest veterinarians of the department will attend a five-day advanced training programme on animal care in Vantara, starting October 4.
Incidentally, a six-member team from the department led by P. Pugazhendi, Chief Wildlife Warden, Keralam, had visited the facility last month. The delegation had the director of Thrissur Zoological Park and the assistant veterinary officer of Kottoor Elephant Rehabilitation Centre among others as its members. The visit had triggered an intense debate as it coincided with the proposal of Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan to shift the museum at Thiruvananthapuram to a location outside the city limits and close to some forested areas.
“Keralam, which has five elephant rehabilitation centres including the ones at Kottoor, Muthanga and Kodanad, can adopt scientific practices for animal rehabilitation,” according to an official.
The centre regularly offers training programmes for mahouts, animal handlers, and forest veterinarians. Keralam personnel could also be trained. Vantara practises a positive reinforcement method for training the animals, especially elephants, by offering them edible treats for obeying commands and avoiding physical contact. This is not the case in Keralam. Here, the animals are made to obey commands by inflicting physical pain and fear, he said.
The department will soon come up with a plan for future association with the Gujarat centre for training and rehabilitation care and management of its injured wildlife, the official said.
