Braving it all for the wild

Answering a dangerous call of duty, Meghana Pemmaiah and Yashaswi Naravi have channelled their love for animals into hundreds of rescues

As the heavy iron cage door creaked open, veterinarian Dr Meghana Pemmaiah (32) stepped cautiously inside, her every movement deliberate, her breathing steady. The task ahead was one that required delicate balance and utmost care. Below her, a leopard lay still, wary and exhausted from its fall and entrapment in a 25-foot open well at Niddodi in Dakshina Kannada.

A tranquilliser dart is cradled carefully in the veterinarian’s gloved hand. Injecting the trapped animal would be the first step in helping this wild creature return to its home in the forest. Her gaze is fixed on the leopard’s fierce, watchful eyes. Her exit from the cage must also be quick.

She manages these deft motions and is met with a rescue team member inside the well. Together, they are able to move the sedated leopard into the cage. A team, which includes her husband Dr Yashaswi Naravi (35), helps them out. After ascertaining that the leopard was not injured, the forest department was able to release it deep into the wilderness.

"The officials only called us after all efforts failed," says Meghana. "The leopard was starved and dehydrated for nearly two days, and we could not get a clear view from above. I was confident that the cage was safe and the leopard could not attack me. Though the leopard was growling, I went for the first shot, and within a few minutes, the leopard was sedated. It was a well-coordinated effort with forest officials and locals,” adds Dr Meghana. “When I think of it now, I get goosebumps,” she adds.

Meghana and Yashaswi periodically encounter danger. "Capturing elephants and tracking their movement is always challenging. We are on foot and an attack can occur at any time,” says Meghana.

The duo was also part of a team formed to capture an elephant that went on a rampage and killed two people in Kadaba in the Subrahmanya range. The couple usually works on these missions in Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, Kodagu and Uttara Kannada districts, having rescued over 30 species of mammals.

Every case is different for wildlife rescuers, Meghana explains. In many dangerous cases of human-wildlife conflict, the couple has been able to carry out missions to relocate and treat injured animals. The veterinarians were able to intervene and help animals that were caught in fence wiring, injured snakes and big predators. They also perform surgery on injured animals.

Credit: DH Photo

Both Meghana and Yashaswi have been assets, in their own right, to the forest department, says Dakshina Kannada Deputy Conservator of Forests Anthony S Mariyappa. 

“Both are daring veterinarians. They have been cooperating with the department in the rescue and rehabilitation of wild animals that have strayed into villages. They helped the department in rescuing leopards, cobras and elephants. As the department does not have any veterinary doctors, they have been key in many rescues," he says. Yashaswi has been on contract with the forest department for the past year.

According to statistics from the Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services, the total sanctioned post of veterinarians in Karnataka is 3,194, of which, 1,368 are vacant. 

Deputy Director of the Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services Dr Arun Kumar Shetty says with the help of private veterinary doctors who focus on also rescuing wildlife, the gap is lessened. “As there is a shortage of doctors in the government set-up, people go for private practitioners. There is a need for a veterinarian even at the hobli-level,” he says. 

To date, they have treated 400 to 500 different species of birds. “More than rescue, we are involved in the treatment of injured birds and animals. On average, about 30 to 40 wild animals reach our clinic for treatment in a month. Sometimes, this number is higher, especially during heavy rainfall,” says Meghana. 

Of note is their ability to treat reptiles. For instance, two injured king cobras from Belthangady were treated recently. The snakes had suffered injuries during an excavation. Their facilities have also been useful in hatching abandoned snake eggs, which many bring in after finding them during excavation work. Together, Meghana and Yashaswi have hatched many python, cobra and rat snake eggs. 

Personal journeys

 “I was driven to serve wildlife throughout my life, which played into my decision to specialise in wildlife treatment during my master’s in veterinary science,” says Yashaswi. His journey as a veterinarian began through government service in Bajpe in Mangaluru. He resigned after a year and started Little Paws, a multi-speciality veterinary clinic with modern diagnostic facilities.

Meghana's love for animals also contributed to her choice of career. "I am a native of Kodagu. My father would often talk about the characteristics of different animals. We would also always watch the National Geographic Channel," she says.

Credit: DH Photo

While pursuing a bachelor's degree in veterinary science, she developed an interest in wild animal rescue and rehabilitation. On completing her master’s degree, she worked at People for Animals (PFA), a non-profit organisation in Bengaluru, that centres on the protection and rescue of urban wildlife, for five years, where she met Yashaswi and eventually, they wed. Their love for animals is at the core of their joint effort to help animals in distress.

Though working in wildlife rescue is tough, it has many rewards.  For instance, when two jackal pups were found near Mangaluru airport in critical condition after suffering injury in a fire, there was little hope. “We hand-fed them. One pup died as it was too weak,” recalls Yashaswi. 

“After three months of feeding, we were able to heal the other pup by keeping it in an enclosure at home,” he adds. After seven months, the pup was shifted to PFA in Bengaluru, where it was rehabilitated in natural hunting and was later released into the wild by the forest department. 

These rewards keep them going, despite the unpredictability of wildlife treatment. Recently, the pair came across a young Munia bird, which had fallen from its nest. The bird was small and needed hand feeding. 

fter a couple of days of nurturing, during which the bird was kept near the clinic’s window to catch some sunlight, adult Munia birds started approaching to feed it. “When the young bird started flying, it sat on a branch and two other birds came nearby and interacted with it. This was a satisfying moment,” says Meghana. 

 Dr Chandrashekar, chief veterinary officer of the Poly Clinic of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services department, Udupi, explains that the couple does not hesitate during times of need. “Any time of the day, they are ready for the rescue of wild animals in danger. They have daringly attended to leopards.”

Credit: DH Photo

Meghana and Yashaswi have more recently been involved in setting up a wildlife rehabilitation and rescue centre in Mangaluru, with CARE’s technical support. 

“We are in the process of developing a larger team but as of now, we work with forest department staff and have been managing finances by ourselves. Recently, we instituted a trust to pool in some funds,” says Yashaswi. In a bid to bring awareness and interest in wildlife, the veterinarians have also been raising awareness about rapid urbanisation and a corresponding increase in human-animal conflict on social media platforms.

They have also created and participated in educational programmes along with Vana Charitable Trust to sensitise people.

Keerthan, manager of Charlie’s Animal Rescue Centre (CARE), Bengaluru, explains that wildlife rescue and treatment can prove a challenging endeavour. Rescued animals may perceive humans as threats, leading to their aggressive behaviour. However, there is a sense of readiness and dedication with which the veterinarians approach rescue missions, explains Keerthan. He has known the couple for the past five years. “They prioritise the animals’ safety. They work quietly, considering others' input in tough decisions, which makes their contributions stand out,” he says.  

Chethana Gadiyar, a volunteer at the Animal Care Trust has seen the work of the veterinarians at close quarters. She recognises an innate humanity and kindness with which they approach animals. “Both look at the welfare of the animals in distress first then decide on the course of action to be taken. They are ready to share knowledge and discuss ideas with their counterparts. They are very humane towards animals in distress,” she says.