Vet unit for rescued animals

Siliguri, April 8: A check-up and medical care right after rescue. That is what the centre in Sukna that started functioning late last month offers to animals.

A vet of the Animal Resource Development Department (ARD) will be in charge of the unit that is part of the rescue centre that already existed in Sukna, 10km from here.

The medical unit, which is presently equipped with three sheds, an operation table, medicines, first-aid and a saline stand, is being looked after by the foresters of the Sukna elephant squad and the Sukna range under that are both under wildlife division I.

“The main purpose of setting up such a centre is to provide treatment to animals and birds that are brought to the rescue centre here,” said Kanchan Banerjee, the range officer of Sukna.

According to foresters, often elephant calves, pythons and birds that are rescued from Siliguri and its adjacent areas are found with injuries.

“The nearest veterinary hospital from here is in Siliguri and it is very difficult for us to take the injured animals and birds there because of the distance. We had requested our higher officials to set up a treatment centre here at Sukna. We received the permission last month and the unit came up near the rescue centre,” Banerjee said.

According to Banerjee, Malay Maity a veterinary surgeon from the ARD is working with the centre.

“Whenever an animal needs to be treated, we get his service,” he added.

Few rescued animals have already being treated, foresters said. “Recently we had rescued a deer from the Kalabari forest under Panighata range near Naxalbari. We found that the left side of the animal had been paralysed. The deer is now under treatment. Two months back, two vultures were rescued from Siliguri. They were also given shelter and now they are being treated at the centre,” Banerjee said.

According to Maity, the medical unit at Sukna will ensure that the rescued animals get treatment on time.

Animesh Bose, the programme coordinator of Himalayan Nature and Adventure Foundation, however, said: “We had repeatedly told the foresters to take such initiatives for the rescued animals here. Considering the number of rescued animals in this area, a full-fledged veterinary hospital is required and the department should consider it immediately.”

Source: The Telegraph