After 10 long years, Karnataka forest department to finally get dedicated wildlife veterinarians

Bengaluru: In the wake of back-to-back tragedy of wildlife deaths, Chief minister Siddaramaiah has given in-principle approval for the forest department's long-pending proposal to create a separate cadre of wildlife veterinarians, Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre stated on Tuesday.

Khandre held a video conference with the heads of nine zoos after the toll of blackbucks dying due to Hemorrhagic septicemia, a bacterial infection, in Belagavi zoo reached 31. The deaths in the zoo followed several incidents of wildlife conflicts, including deaths of tigers, tiger cubs, in Mysuru and Chamarajanagar districts.

"The chief minister has given in-principle approval to create a separate cadre and appoint 15 wildlife veterinarians," Khandre said in a statement.

It can be recalled that DH had on October 30 reported on the forest department and the state government sitting on a proposal for separate cadres for more than 10 years. During the time, the number of man-animal conflicts had increased progressively, putting pressure on the department which lacked expertise even as its resources were stretched thin.

Khandre also ordered officials to investigate how bacterial infection spread and claimed so many lives in the Belagavi zoo to ensure such incidents do not recur. He suggested officials come up with a standard operating procedure on handling such infections.

Besides the death of blackbucks, the minister ordered an audit into the death of a gaur in Bannerghatta Biological Park. He said the department has received complaints alleging that the guar was killed due to mistakes made while administering a drug.