Gujarat State Forest Dept., India trains Vets for better Wildlife Conservations

For effective wildlife management, conservation and rescue operation on the periphery area of Wildlife Sanctuaries and National Parks in Gujarat, India the State Forest Department in association with Department of Animal Husbandry has initiated a training program for Veterinary Doctors and Range Forest Officers.

According to Chief Conservator of Forests, Junagadh Circle (Wildlife) R.L. Meena, ‘the idea behind organizing such programmes is to make wildlife management and conservation more effective’. He adds: “At present, Veterinary Doctors and Range Forest Officers from Saurashtra and Kutch regions are being trained at Sakkarbaug Zoo in Junagadh. The Veterinary Doctors are primarily responsible for domestic animals, but many a time when they are posted near the Wildlife Sanctuaries and National Parks, they encounter a situation when they have to treat a wild animal and during emergency they can deal with the situation effectively,” Meena told Times of India (TOI).

According to Sakkarbaug Zoo in Junagadh, Director V.J. Rana, this is the third such training and workshop. “In the first phase, five training programme are being conducted for veterinary and Range Forest Officers. Experts from Forest Department will train them to deal with wild animals and the possible treatment should be given.” Forest officials say that such programmes will help better coordination between Range Forest Officers and Veterinary Doctors in their respective areas.

Courtesy :- Times Of India, 2nd January, 2011.